Mo money, no problems? A guide to changes to planning fees from December 2023

Insights

Mo money, no problems?

A guide to changes to planning fees from December 2023

14 Nov 2023
The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 have been made.
 
Therefore, the increase to planning fees applies from 6 December 2023. Fee levels will be reviewed no later than three years following implementation and raised in line with inflation each April[1]. This means applications submitted on or after 6 December 2023 will use the new fee regime, subject to transitional and savings provisions [2]
  
The headlines are as follows:
  1. A 35% initial increase in planning application fees for major applications;
     
  2. A 25% increase for all other applications which include prior approval applications, minor and householder applications;
     
  3. Fees to rise yearly with inflation from 1 April 2025 (capped at 10%, measured by the Consumer Price Index from the preceding September);
     
  4. Removal of the ‘free go’ for repeat applications;
     
  5. A reduction in the ‘planning guarantee period’ for non-major applications from 26 weeks to 16 weeks, unless extended in exceptional circumstances; and
     
  6. No ringfencing of planning fees.
 
This Insight Focus discusses the new fees and the policy context behind their introduction. 

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