We aim to work with businesses and their agents at an early stage to improve the quality of proposals for development in North Lanarkshire.

Having the right feedback on your proposal at the right time can save time, costs and help optimise the potential of your development project. Our aim is to support the delivery of good quality proposals for development in line with the Development Plan. This will improve the submission of your planning application, roads construction consent and building warrant and in turn reduce the time it takes to process these.

Through the Invest team, reviewing your proposal face to face will be a representative from each (as appropriate to your proposal) of the following key council services:

• Planning
• Infrastructure and Transportation
• Environmental Health
• Building Standards
• Economic Development
• Assets and Procurement (Estates)

To help identify any potential issues at relevant stages, we have developed the following Gateway checks. At each Gateway (1-4) we can provide advice as to what could be carried out to improve the quality of your submission. We will also make it clear where your proposal is unacceptable due to conflicts with policy or guidance.

Gateway 1 - Project feasibility

This will allow us to provide feedback on a project before time and costs are incurred in purchasing the site or developing a proposal.
Information you will be asked to submit when you register:

• location plan
• site/boundary plan
• ownership statement
• statement on proposal/future business plan (scale of development, timescales)
• information on any previous application
• site history
• known development constraints
• indicative site access
• define land use
• site photos

Gateway 2 – Project Development

This will allow us to provide feedback on a project concept and to guide as to where we consider any modifications or amendments could be considered.

Information you will be asked to submit when you register:  

• any changes following Gateway 1 and the reasons for these
• outline design – broad principles on policy compliance (that will include biodiversity, sustainability, climate change, sustainable transport)
• site layout/plans/elevations
• concept design for road construction consent (that will include horizontal layout, parking bays, road layouts)
• draft street engineering review (for housing applications)

Gateway 3 – Project Finalisation

This will allow us to provide feedback on whether we consider your proposal and submission package acceptable in principle. This stage would come in at if you already have Planning Permission in Principle (PPP) or if application is S42.
Information you will be asked to submit when you register:  

• any changes/information following Gateway 1 / 2 and the reasons for these
• detailed design for planning application
• detailed design for roads construction consent including necessary surveys and approval from other statutory bodies
• detailed design for building warrant
• contract agreed or advanced for council assets
• licensing requirements

Gateway 4 – Project Implementation

This will allow you to access feedback on discharging planning conditions, amendments to design, and addressing any issues that arise.

To register for advice through our multi-disciplinary Invest team, please complete the form. When you receive our response, you can pay the fee using the reference number we provide. Fees are as follows:

• Major development: £3000 plus 20% VAT (£3600)
• Local significant development: £2000 plus 20% VAT (£2400)

Before you register, please read our information on Gateways, as we will need to understand what Gateway you which to receive advice through.

Step 1 – complete the request form:

Step 2 - Once you have received your planning reference number by email (e.g. 25/00001/PREINV), please log on to the ePlanning.scot portal to submit your relevant drawings and documents. The correspondence you will receive from us will include your reference number and step-by-step guidance including information on how to make your payment.

Email submission of forms, drawings or any other documents will not be accepted.

When we have received your drawings and documents, we aim to contact you within 15 working days to arrange a meeting. Following your meeting, we aim provide you with an initial written report within a further 10 working days.

Under the Freedom of Information Act and/or the Environmental Information Regulations, we may be asked to provide information regarding inquiries for pre-application advice and copies of any correspondence or advice provided. Information can be withheld from disclosure in certain circumstances such as disclosure would prejudice the confidentiality of commercial information.

It is at our discretion whether information can be treated as exempt from disclosure and it should be recognised that the point of the legislation is to make information accessible unless there is a pressing reason not to. The passage of time may remove the need for exemption as information becomes less sensitive. Generally, notes and correspondence relating to pre-application discussion will not be treated as confidential once a planning application has been submitted and the case is in the public domain.