A reminder that planning fees will increase on 6th December 2023. This will result in;
- Increase planning application fees by 35% for applications for major development and 25% for all other applications.
- Introduce an annual indexation of planning applications fees, capped at 10%, from 1 April 2025.
- Remove the fee exemption for repeat applications (the ‘free-go’). An applicant will still be able to benefit from a free-go if their application was withdrawn or refused in the preceding 12 months, subject to all other conditions for the free-go being met.
Alan Davies (Associate Director) explained ‘the Government expects the fee increase to result in increased investment in the planning service and lead to an improved service. It is common knowledge that planning authorities are struggling to recruit and retain good quality staff – whilst applicants will not welcome the fee increase, if it leads to better qualified, fully staffed competent planning authorities, then the increase fee may be less painful – however, all must agree that any tangible benefit to the customer will only be seen (if ever) in the longer term as recruitment issues cannot be solved overnight’.
