Our service to developers
Preliminary opinion
We offer a free preliminary opinion for all development proposals which meet at least one of the criteria on our engagement checklist. We will provide you with:
- An indicative view on which environmental issues listed on our checklist need to be considered as part of your application
- An outline of the assessments that may be required to support your application
You can only request the preliminary opinion once for each development that you are involved with.
Apply for a preliminary opinion on your development.
We ask you to provide information about your proposed development, such as the development type, the site location and how you intend to address any potential environmental impacts that have been identified.
We aim to provide you with a preliminary opinion within 21 calendar days of receiving the form and associated information.
Statutory preliminary service for significant infrastructure projects
For significant infrastructure projects we offer a chargeable statutory preliminary service in accordance with section 27 of the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 and the Infrastructure Consent (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2025. As part of this service, we will provide you with:
- a statement of environmental considerations for the proposed development
- a statement of environmental assessments that may be required for the proposed development
- advice on any potential statement of common ground
- advice relating to further pre-application consultation that we recommend you undertake
Read more about applying for the statutory preliminary service and our other advice for developers proposing significant infrastructure projects.
Statutory advice
For major developments and developments of national significance, you have a duty to consult us before submitting your application to the relevant planning or consenting authority if your proposal meets one or more of the criteria set out in legislation. You also have a duty to consult us on all significant infrastructure projects. In return, we will provide you with a substantive response detailing whether we have:
- no comment
- no objection
- identified concerns and how they should be addressed
- identified concerns and would object to an application
Discretionary planning advice
You can request further advice on several subjects and development types.
- Land contamination
- Ground water protection
- Flood consequence assessments
- Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs)
- Significant Infrastructure Projects (SIPs)
- Developments of National Significance (DNSs)
- Advice in relation to marine developments
Discretionary planning advice is provided at a cost of £125 per hour plus VAT (based on the full recovery of our costs).
We will provide an estimate of the work and cost before you decide if you wish to proceed.
If you wish to request discretionary advice in relation to predominantly marine developments, please contact marine.advice@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk in the first instance.
Apply for discretionary planning advice.
Please allow at least 30 days for the work to start, from the date on which you return the form.
While we aim to meet demand for the service, there may be times when our capacity to do so is limited. In those instances, we reserve the right to not offer the service.