New Guidance Available to Help Strengthen Planning Proposals
Businesses and property owners preparing new developments or changes of use are being encouraged to make use of Bolton Council’s pre‑application planning advice service.
Designed to streamline the planning process and reduce uncertainty.
Understanding whether planning permission is required can often feel complex. The national Planning Portal - Planning Portal provides straightforward guidance on how the planning system works and offers step‑by‑step support for submitting an application, making it a useful starting point for anyone considering development.
When planning permission is needed, Bolton Council’s pre‑application advice service offers tailored, written feedback from Planning Officers for a small fee. Officers will review draft proposals—such as extensions, new buildings, alterations, or changes of use—and outline how likely the plans are to be supported.
The service helps applicants identify potential issues early, before submitting a formal application. Reports cover key planning considerations including design, impact on neighbouring properties, parking, trees, and other site‑specific matters. Where challenges are identified, officers will suggest practical ways to address them and highlight any supporting documents that may be required, such as biodiversity assessments, transport information, noise reports, or flood‑risk details.
To ensure meaningful feedback, applicants will need to provide accurate, scaled draft plans. These do not need to be highly complex, and many local Planning Agents in Bolton can prepare them if needed.
Bolton Council encourages anyone considering development to seek early advice to help strengthen their proposals and avoid unnecessary delays in the planning process.
Find Out More: Pre-application planning advice – Bolton Council