Mo money, no problems?

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]

  

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.