Duty Planner Information

The duty planning service provides general planning advice via a 15-minute telephone appointment. There is a non-refundable £20 charge for this service. Meetings will be strictly limited to a maximum of 15 minutes in length. If more than 15 minutes are required, up to 2 duty planner slots (total of 30 minutes in length) may be booked for a charge of £40.

The Duty Planner service does not provide pre-application advice for specific projects.

Listed Building and other specific Heritage queries

There are appointments available on Thursday mornings for Listed Building and other specific Heritage queries.

Please note that heritage appointments are for £40 for a 30-minute appointment.

Is there a fee for the duty planner service?

Yes - There is a non-refundable £20 charge for this service. Meetings will be strictly limited to a maximum of 15 minutes in length.

If more than 15 minutes are required, up to 2 duty planner slots (total of 30 minutes in length) may be booked for a charge of £40*.

How do I book an appointment with a duty planner?

Please note that Duty Planner Appointments are all telephone appointments. Face-to-face meetings are not currently available. 

To book a duty planner appointment, please call 01803 861234.

How to pay

When you phone to make your appointment, you will be asked to pay by debit or credit card using our automated payment system.

What can the duty planner help with?

Informal advice:

• General information and advice on national and local planning policy and planning processes;
• Informal advice on the need to apply for planning permission;
• Technical advice to make sure you know which application type to submit and the required documents;

Please note that the verbal advice given by the duty planner is given on an informal basis and is intended to assist with general, basic planning enquiries.

The advice given by a duty planner should not be seen as representing the Council's formal position and is not a substitute for using our pre-application service.

What can't the duty planner help with?

• Pre-application advice;
• Provide a planning application validation checking service;
• We cannot give written advice;
• Advise whether a plan may receive officer support;
• Say that planning permission would or would not be granted;
• Discuss the detail of large or complex plans;
• Discuss the technical advantages of existing applications, refusals or appeals;
• Agree to any minor amendments to planning permissions;
• Discharge any planning conditions on a decision notice;
• Building Control queries - please visit Devon Building Control Partnership;

If you need planning permission or you need a formal response:

If a formal response is needed about whether planning permission is required, please submit a Certificate of Lawful Proposed Use Application. The application form, information and details of the appropriate fee for an application for a Certificate of Lawful Proposed Use can be viewed on the following links:

Certificate of Lawfulness for Proposed Use - Application Form

Certificate of Lawfulness for Proposed Use - Guidance

If you want to find out whether you are likely to get planning permission before submitting your application, then you will need to use our Pre-application Service.

The officer on duty is managed by a rota. If you need further appointments, you may not be able to speak to the same planning officer.

Note:  Refunds will only be given in exceptional circumstances.