PRe-APPLICATION ADVICE
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EARLY GUIDANCE TO SHAPE A STRONGER, MORE INFORMED PLANNING STRATEGY
Opening a dialogue with the local planning authority before submitting a formal application can significantly strengthen your project’s chances of success. Our Pre-application Advice and Submission service provides clear early direction, helping you understand how your proposal aligns with planning policy, local sensitivities, and any unique aspects of your site.
This stage gives you valuable insight before detailed design work starts, allowing potential challenges to be identified early and opportunities can be explored in more detail. It sets a purposeful foundation for design development and helps ensure your planning journey is smoother and more predictable.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Our approach is structured, proactive, and rooted in local planning knowledge, we can:
• Prepare and submit the pre-application enquiry to the local authority
• Outline your intentions clearly with supporting site information and context
• Highlight key planning considerations and policy implications
• Review written feedback from the planning officer and interpret its impact
• Recommend next steps to refine the design and strengthen the planning pathway
This early engagement helps shape a planning strategy that is informed, realistic, and aligned with both your aspirations and local planning expectations.
architectural SERVICES
Project Appraisals
Assesses planning policy, constraints, and opportunities to guide investment decisions.
Planning and Listed Building Applications
Manages sensitive, well-justified applications for smooth approval by local planning authorities.
Certificate of Lawfulness Applications
Prepares applications confirming developments meet all relevant legal requirements.
Feasibility Studies and Concept Assessments
Analyses planning, access, and budget to define site potential before any design work begins.
Discharge of Planning Conditions
Submits required documents to discharge conditions, ensuring smooth project progression.
Building Regulation Applications
Produces compliant drawings and specifications for timely Building Control approval.
Pre-application Advice and Submission
Prepares and submits enquiries to gain feedback, shaping and strengthening future proposals.
Prior Approval Applications
Confirms permitted development eligibility and secures necessary prior approval consents.
Construction Contract Administration
Oversees construction progress, quality, and changes to ensure delivery matches plans.
why pre-application advice is important
Pre-application advice provides clarity at a crucial point in the planning journey. It helps reveal how planning officers interpret policy for your site, highlights any sensitive issues, such as views, neighbouring amenities, or heritage factors and identifies issues that could otherwise cause delays later on.
For Cornwall’s diverse landscapes, including coastal settlements, rural villages, and areas within the AONB, early discussions with the planning authority can be particularly valuable. They help avoid unnecessary redesigns, support a more collaborative process, and allow the design to evolve with a clearer understanding of what will be supported.
By working with this early guidance, we can refine proposals in a way that is thoughtful, achievable, and respectful of the site’s setting..
why choose atlantek architects
Atlantek Architects is a design-led practice rooted in Cornwall, with extensive experience working on bespoke homes, extensions, and sensitive sites including coastal, AONB, and listed buildings. Our approach is empathetic and client-focused listening carefully to your goals and responding with clarity and informed advice.
We combine creative thinking with deep planning knowledge, ensuring that the feedback gained through pre-application dialogue directly strengthens the proposal. Our communication is clear and transparent throughout, helping projects progress with greater certainty and fewer surprises as they move toward full planning submission.
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Not always, but it is highly beneficial for complex or sensitive sites where early guidance can help avoid delays or redesigns.
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We prepare a site plan, photographs, a written project overview, and outline intentions to give the planning officer a clear understanding of the proposal.
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Most local authorities respond within 4–6 weeks, depending on workload and the nature of the enquiry. Check Cornwall Council fees here.
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No, but it provides valuable insight that can significantly strengthen your planning application and reduce risk.
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Yes. We refine the design based on the feedback and prepare a well-supported planning submission on your behalf.
faq’s
We worked closely with Rob to design a house that would fit into the street scene whilst still also meeting all of our needs. Rob was very responsive and professional throughout and provided excellent advice at all stages of the design process, where we were very pleased with the end result. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Rob to friends and family.
Mark
St. Mawes
testimonials
Rob’s creativity and professionalism coupled with his integrity and easy nature has made what could have been a stressful and challenging experience an absolute joy.
Would never use anyone else now.
Rosie
Newquay
Although ours has been a difficult build, with Rob’s direction our new home is all we could possibly wish for.
I would highly recommend Rob to anyone who is looking for an architect who is both professional and personable.
A big thank you Rob, keep up the good work
Julie
Plymouth
Thank you, Simon. We came to you with just a rough idea of what we wanted, and you not only fulfilled the brief but brought it to life beautifully. Your assistance, guidance, and knowledge have been brilliant throughout. Nothing was ever too much trouble.
Highly recommended.
Mr. & Mrs. Herman
Falmouth
contact us
Looking for an experienced architect in Cornwall?
We excel in designing for sensitive settings, from Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and coastal locations to listed buildings, creating projects that are both innovative and deeply connected to their surroundings.
Provide a few details about your project, and our team will get back to you shortly to discuss ideas, options, and next steps.