Changes To Planning Application Costs & Procedures

In a bid to recover 90% of local authority planning application costs, the Government is proposing to increase fees, effective from the 8th December this year. If it happens, this will be the second planning application fee increase in 2026, adding a further cost burden to an already beleaguered development industry.

However, better news comes in the form of a more streamlined approach to the determination of planning applications. Professional planning officers will have more scope to determine applications under delegated powers, leaving planning committees to deal with the larger proposals. Coming into force at the end of October, officer only decisions will be made on:

• householder applications
• minor commercial applications (smaller than 1 ha or 1,000 m2)
• minor residential applications (smaller than 0.5 ha or less than 10 dwellings)
• variations to planning conditions
• non-material amendments
• certificates of lawfulness
• determinations for prior approval.

This list is not exhaustive and there are instances where decisions can be determined either by a committee or an officer. It will, however, leave planning committees to concentrate on the strategic applications that are more vital to delivering local plan housing and employment development targets.

For further details contact Peter Atfield B.TP MRTPI MTCPA FRGS FRSA on 01202 550100 or e-mail: [email protected]