Planning Application Fees more than Doubling from 1st April 2025!

Planning application fees in England are set to rise significantly. This change, introduced by the Government to help local planning authorities achieve full cost recovery for processing applications.

Householder Applications:

·         Single Dwellinghouse: The fee for applications involving the enlargement, improvement, or alteration of a single dwellinghouse will increase from £258 to £528.

·         Multiple Dwellinghouses: For two or more dwellinghouses, the fee will rise from £509 to £1,043

Prior Approvals:

·         Non-Building Operations: Fees for prior approval applications that don't involve building operations will double from £120 to £240

·         Building Operations: For those involving building operations, the fee will increase from £258 to £516

·         Change of Use: Prior approvals for changing the use of Class E properties to residential will see fees rise from £125 per dwellinghouse to £250 per dwellinghouse.

Fees for applications to approve details reserved by condition will increase from £43 to £86 for householders and from £145 to £298 for other developments.

Beating this deadline

If you are considering an imminent application, bear in mind that it needs to be validated so, engaging with us early in the process can help navigate the requirements and ensure that your applications are submitted correctly and avoid a race against the clock

Annual Inflation Adjustment

In addition to these increases, planning application fees will also rise annually with inflation, capped at 10%,

Conclusion

The upcoming rise in planning application fees marks a significant shift in the cost landscape for development projects in England. However, there are concerns that higher fees might deter some applicants, potentially leading to more unauthorised developments as people seek to avoid the additional costs