Get planning advice on more complicated development (Duty Planner Complex Service)

The Duty Planner Complex Service gives householders, their representatives and local businesses the opportunity to discuss more complex smaller development schemes. This service is also suitable for advice to telecoms providers and advertisers.

This service can also be used to discuss complex CIL / S106 issues with a CIL officer.

What advice you can get

You can:

discuss your proposal before you submit it
get advice on the Development Plan and other guidance
get advice to help you develop your scheme
help get a decision made quickly

The service covers more small-scale complex and revised schemes. For example:

extensions or alterations within a Conservation Area
more than one extension or alternation
small scale (less than 100m2) extensions or alterations to business premises (changes to shopfronts, advertisements, extensions etc)
specific advice from the Conservation Officer
specific listed building advice
advice to telecoms providers
advice to advertisers
revisions to the above types of schemes following the approval, refusal or withdrawal of planning applications
the adequacy of information provided in order to discharge complex conditions attached to planning permissions (note this does not provide input from other departments within the Council, such as the Highways or Environmental Health departments)
discuss complex CIL / S106 complex issues

Larger scale proposals outside of the scope of the above areas should be made through the pre-application service.

Research before requesting advice

You may wish to look at the Planning Portal before you book a chargeable service. You’ll find:

an interactive guide for houses
an interactive guide for terraces (including flats, shops and basements)
information about common projects
frequently asked questions, which cover both planning permission and building regulations

You should also read our planning policy and guidance and our residential development standards supplementary planning document (SPD).

Cost of service

The charge for the service will vary according to the type of service being requested and the number of separate enquiries within an individual request.

Fees

	Service	Fee
H3	Householder - 25 minute virtual meeting with Planning Officer on complex homeowner projects per site	£210.77 + VAT (£252.93)
H3	Householder - accompanied site visit with one planning officer. This fee is in addition to the virtual meeting fee above.	£110.70 + VAT (£132.84)
H4	Householder (Listed building) - get written advice on your proposed works to your listed building. Travel costs will be calculated separately using officer rates.	£419.76 + VAT (£503.71)
H4	Get written advice on your proposed works to your listed building with accompanied site visit with Conservation Officer. Travel costs will separately calculated using officer rates	£602.73 + VAT (£723.27)
H5	Householders - get written advice after your decision on related conditions: Fee will depend on complexity of the question, but in most cases: questions about planning conditions and whether a proposed change is material attract the H1 fee questions about whether your proposed change would be acceptable attract the H3 fee depending on the complexity This service relates to questions about Non-material amendments and Minor Material Amendments (Ref H5).	£56.51 + VAT (Total £67.81) £210.77 + VAT (£252.93)
H5A	Householder Complex follow up service - email correspondence only for review of revised drawings post initial advice. Get a brief written response to your revisions to your project following our initial feedback within 12 months of original request	£105.38 + VAT (£126.45)
LE3	Local businesses - 25 minute virtual meeting with Planning Officer on complex small business planning projects	£235.80 + VAT (£282.96)
LE3	Local businesses - accompanied site visit with one Planning Officer. This fee is in addition to the virtual meeting fee above.	£110.70 +VAT (£132.84)
LE5	Local businesses (Listed building) - get written advice on your proposed works to your listed building	£419.76 +VAT (£503.71)
LE5	Local businesses (Listed building) - get written advice on your proposed works to your listed building with accompanied site visit with Conservation Officer. Travel costs will be separately calculated using officer rate	£602.73 + VAT (£723.27)
LE6	Local businesses - get written advice after your decision on related conditions: fee will depend on complexity of the question, but in most cases: questions about planning conditions and whether a proposed change is material attract the L1 fee questions about whether your proposed change would be acceptable attract the L3 (fee depending on the complexity This service relates to questions about Non-material amendments and Minor Material (Ref LE6).	£78.60 + VAT (Total £94.32) £117.90 + VAT (Total £141.48)
LE3A	Local businesses - Duty Planner Complex follow up service - email correspondence only for review of revised drawings post initial advice. Get a brief written response to your revisions to your project following our initial feedback within 12 months of original request.	£117.90 + VAT (Total £141.48)
L4	Telecoms providers and advertisers - 45 minute virtual meeting with planning officer on complex local economy projects	£445.40 +VAT (£534.48)
L4	Telecoms providers and advertisers - accompanied site visit with one planning officer	£152.83 +VAT (£183.40)
CIL/Section 106	CIL/Section 106 - 25 minute virtual meeting with Planning Officer/CIL Officer/Section 106 Officer to discuss complex CIL/S106 related issues	£235.80 +VAT (£282.96)

How to request the Duty Planner Complex Service

You can email planning@lewisham.gov.uk with your enquiry, enclosing address of the site, any planning application reference that is relevant to your enquiry and other details and plans that would be helpful to the planning officer, or download and complete the form on this page and email it to planning@lewisham.gov.uk:

please send us any sketches, photographs, and/or outline plans that you would like the planning officer to consider
we'll contact you within five working days to take your payment over the phone and arrange your virtual appointment with the planning officer
an officer will review your materials in advance of the meeting and will send you a brief written summary of the key points within five working days of receiving the payment of the fee

Duty Planner Complex booking form

Pdf, 306.4KB

Disclaimer

Any planning advice given by officers, either orally or in writing in the course of their duties, is offered in good faith and is based on the information/evidence provided. Advice is offered without the benefit of a site visit or the involvement of other consultees (not internal and external), neighbours or other interested parties.

Such views are therefore the personal opinion of that officer and are not a formal decision of, nor are they binding, on the local planning authority. The local planning authority will only be bound where a formal application is submitted and a formal decision is issued in writing.

Contact

Planning Department

Email:

planning@lewisham.gov.uk

Published on: 24/04/2026