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Pre-application planning advice for historic buildings and places

Before you apply for planning consent to alter, extend or demolish a historic building or place, we recommend using our pre-application advice service. We offer expert advice about getting listed building consent, for development in conservation areas, or for works to other heritage sites.

You may want to use this service if you've already consulted an architect or builder and you're ready to submit your planning application, or if you'd just like some advice and guidance on what's possible. If you're ready to submit your planning application, as part of this service we can check over your application and other documents.

Our advice will be provided in a short written document. This will cover how the planning authority may respond to your planning application, keeping in mind the specific character of the building, area, or site.

You might also be interested in applying for pre-application advice for extending or altering your home or pre-application advice for major and minor developments.

Fees

There's a charge of £125 (including VAT) for this service.

Before you apply

Any pre-application advice given by us should not be classed as a formal response, and doesn't affect any future decision about planning permission. Our advice will be based on the information you submit, and we can't be held responsible for any issues resulting from inaccurate information.

Any views and opinions expressed by us are given in good faith, based on the policies and site characteristics at the time, and to the best of our ability. These are given without prejudice to the formal consideration of any planning application you go on to submit. Any future planning application will still undergo consultation with the public and interested parties, which will be taken into account when we determine the application.

We cannot give guarantees about the final decision that will be made on any planning or related application. However, we will consider the advice note when making a decision on a future planning-related application you submit. We'll also consider changes in circumstances and details that could alter the original position.

Little or no weight will be given to our pre-application advice when it's over three years old.

How to apply

You can apply for pre-application planning advice by filling in our online form below. To apply for this service you need to agree that you're:

  • enquiring about a property or site in the Barnsley borough
  • requesting this service for yourself, or on behalf of someone who has given you their permission

If you need a VAT receipt for your payment, please provide your email address in the online form.

Documents you need to provide

To help us find the relevant planning policies, you'll need to provide the following in the online form:

  • a location plan (to the scale of 1:2500)
  • a layout plan (to the scale of 1:500)
  • full details of the existing site or buildings
  • a full description of the proposal, with drawings

If you don’t provide all of these details, your application may be delayed. 

Any document you upload must be less than 15MB file size, and your combined documents must not exceed 75MB. If you need to submit larger documents you can either:

  • Email them to developmentmanagement@barnsley.gov.uk with the site address in the email title. The total attachment size must be less than 100MB in file size. If your documents are bigger than this, please split them across multiple emails.
  • Save them to a CD or submit paper copies at one of our offices. You can also post them to: Barnsley Council, PO Box 634, Barnsley, S70 9GG. Clearly mark the CD or plans with the site address and  'Planning and Building Control - for the attention of Planning Development Management'. We can't accept .exe or ZIP files on CD.

When you fill in the online form you should tell us if your documents have been submitted separately. 

What happens next

When we've received your online application, payment and supporting documents, we'll aim to contact you within 28 days. We may visit the site or meet you face-to-face as part of the process. If a meeting is required, it can take place at our offices in Barnsley town centre or on site.

Our final advice will be given to you in a short written document.