Arun residents and businesses will soon be able to get information and advice from planners before submitting an application.

The service, for anyone wanting to improve their homes, expand their business or carry out a development, will be available from September.

The flexible service will enable Arun District Council to provide early guidance and suggested improvements, which can be done either at a site meeting or in early discussion with planning officers.

By implementing this service the council hopes to be able to increase the quality of submissions, by identifying any necessary changes early in the process, and determine subsequent applications more quickly.

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There will be a charge for the service ranging from £29 for people wishing to extend their home to £2350 for large developments.

Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy Councillor Ricky Bower said: "The service is for people who do not yet have planning permission, but who are thinking of applying for it. We would rather that they don’t come to us just with an idea, but with some plans which we can discuss together. The charge for this service is purely to cover the cost of providing it, no profit is made.

"By engaging with the planning department at an early stage people wishing to improve their homes, expand their business or undertake significant development will be able to take on board our comments, concerns and suggestions so that any subsequent application is less likely to run in to problems."

(CD)