Income stream plans for Telford & Wrekin Council

The council revealed that last year it saw a "significant increase" in the amount of developers taking up pre-application advice – a total of around 1,700.

But the service, which costs £260,000 a year to offer, saw only 25 per cent of these going through to a planning application.

In a report, which will go to the council's cabinet meeting on April 20, Valerie Hulme, planning service group manager, said: "The majority of the Councils in the region charge for pre-application advice, these are of varying scales and varied level of commitment.

"The team would still offer a free ‘entry’ pre-application advice service including a booked appointment system at Wellington Business & Planning First Point, but then build on the existing service and the reputation of the Strategic Application Workshops with competitive charges below the full cost of advice to ensure developers continue to engage."

The move comes alongside Government changes to planning services. Under the plans, which are still in pilot stages, councils will have to compete with other authorities or companies to process planning applications in their area.

It means anyone wanting to build or submit a planning application would be able to either apply to their local planning authority for the area or appoint an ‘approved provider’ to manage the planning application process. The decision would still remain with the local authority.

The changes proposed by Telford & Wrekin Council hope to offset the impact the Government alterations could have.

In the report to council, Ms Hulme said: "The introduction of Government changes to introduce the ‘Approved Provider’, would impact in a number of ways.

"Firstly there is a risk that applications for development within the borough may be submitted to other Local Planning Authorities or private companies to process, and as such will result in a reduction of planning application fees received by the Council and potentially impact on the quality of development proposals.

"The changes proposed will allow the new Development Team to compete against existing private companies, and other Local Authorities and benefit from opportunities to undertake work outside the Borough and create new income streams."

She added that some councils are looking to "downsize" in this area, so there could be opportunity to work with others.

The changes would also introduce charges to some "enhanced" building regulation processes, as well as requests for highways orders and licences.

The plans will be discussed at a Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet meeting on April 20.