While the annual inflationary adjustment mechanism that was introduced in 2023 had been anticipated to result in inflation linked increases to fees for all types of applications for planning permission from 1 April 2025, the Government has laid a new draft statutory instrument before Parliament proposing significant fee increases for certain types of applications from that same date. Contingent on Parliament’s approval, the increases to fees are summarised below:
Householder applications
• Enlargement, improvement, or other alteration of a single dwelling (or a single flat): fees will increase from £258 to £528.
• Enlargement, improvement, or other alteration of two or more dwellings (or two or more flats): fees will increase from £509 to £1,043.
• Carrying out operations, including the erection of a building, within the curtilage of an existing dwelling or the erection of gates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure along a boundary of the curtilage of an existing dwelling: fees will remain unchanged at £258.
Section 73 applications
A new three-tier fee banded structure will be introduced to vary or remove conditions imposed on an existing planning permission:
• Householder development: £86.
• Non-major development: £586.
• Major development: £2,000.
Prior approval applications under permitted development rights
The regulations will double the fees for certain types of prior approval applications under Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended):
• Any application that involves the material change in the use of any building or other land (e.g., Class R applications): fees will increase from £120 to £240.
• Any application that involves the change in use of any building or other land and building operations in connection with that change of use (e.g., Class Q applications): fees will increase from £258 to £516.
• Any application for development permission by Class MA (commercial, business and service uses to dwellinghouses): fees will increase from £125 per dwellinghouse to £250 per dwellinghouse.
• Any application under Parts 4 (temporary buildings and uses), Part 6 (agricultural and forestry) Part 7 (non domestic extensions, alterations etc), Part 11 (heritage and demolition) or Part 14 (renewable energy): fees will increase from £120 to £240.
Approval of details reserved by condition
Fees for applications seeking approval of details reserved by condition are also set to increase:
• Householder developments: fees will increase from £43 to £86.
• Other developments: fees will increase from £145 to £298.
Biodiversity Gain Plans
The fee for submitting a Biodiversity Gain Plan (BGP) will increase from £145 to £298. The process for the submission of a BGP follows is the same as a request for written confirmation of compliance with conditions attached to a planning permission.
Confirmation of compliance a condition attached to a planning permission
• Conditions attached to householder planning permissions: £86 for each request.
• Conditions attached to other planning permissions: £298 for each request.
“Corrections”
The instrument also addresses prior fee miscalculations:
• Outline applications: For buildings exceeding 3,750 square metres, the fee will rise to £31,385.
• Agricultural buildings: For buildings with gross floor space between 1,000 and 4,215 square metres, the fee will increase from £624 to £5,077.
The draft statutory instrument includes transitional provisions. For applications submitted before 1 April 2025, the current fee structure will remain applicable, even if the determination occurs after that date. The increased fees will apply exclusively to applications made on or after 1 April 2025, subject on the instrument’s formal approval by Parliament. Additionally, the annual inflationary adjustment mechanism that was introduced in 2023 will extend to the new fee structure from 1 April 2026. All other planning fees will be increased by 1.7% at the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Prices Index from September 2024.
If approved, the changes will provide local planning authorities with a much-needed boost to resources, potentially enhancing the efficiency and quality of planning services. However, applicants should anticipate and plan for the financial implications of these increases and consider taking advantage of current rates by submitting applications before 1 April 2025.
