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UK Planning Application Fees to Double in Some Cases from April 2025: Here’s What You Need to Know

UK Planning Application Fees to Double in Some Cases from April 2025: Here’s What You Need to Know

Introduction

After much anticipation and a delay from the initially proposed timeline in 2024, the UK Government has now confirmed that planning application fees will increase from 1 April 2025. In some instances, these fees will rise by as much as 100%, significantly impacting homeowners, developers, and businesses. Below, we outline the key changes, provide links to official sources, and offer guidance on how to prepare.

Why Are Planning Fees Increasing?

The Government periodically reviews the planning system to ensure that local planning authorities have sufficient resources to handle applications efficiently. This review has led to a new Statutory Instrument being laid before Parliament to adjust planning fees.

You can read more about why Planning Application Fees Are Increasing via the government website here: Gov.uk and we’re broken it down to summarise the key changes for your below. 

Key Fee Changes Effective 1 April 2025

UK Planning Application Fees to Double in Some Cases from April 2025: Here’s What You Need to Know

Below is a summary of the most significant fee increases, as collated by our Head of Planning, Ellie Laws (Chartered Town Planner):

1. Householder Applications

  • Enlargement, improvement, or alteration of a single dwellinghouse: Fee increases from £258 to £528.
  • Enlargement, improvement, or alteration of two or more dwellinghouses: Fee increases from £509 to £1,043.
  • Householder developments related to small-scale operations (within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse): Fee remains at £258.

Impact: This is a substantial jump for those looking to extend or significantly alter their homes. If you’ve been considering a project, it may be more cost-effective to submit your application before the 1 April 2025 deadline.

2. Prior Approvals

  • Flat fee for prior approval applications without building operations: Increasing from £120 to £240.
  • Flat fee for prior approval applications with building operations: Increasing from £258 to £516.
  • Change of use of Class E uses to residential (Class MA of the GPDO): Fee increases from £125 per dwelling to £250 per dwelling.
  • Prior approvals for constructing new dwellinghouses: No changes.
  • Other prior approval applications involving change of use to residential (e.g., sui generis to residential under Class N, B8/industrial to residential under Class P/PA, Class Q agricultural conversions): No fee increase per dwelling.

Impact: This effectively doubles the cost of many prior approval applications. If your proposal falls into one of these categories, plan your budget accordingly.

3. Section 73 Applications

A new three-tier fee structure applies to Section 73 (applications to vary or remove conditions on existing planning permissions):

  • £86 for householder applications.
  • £586 for non-major development.
  • £2,000 for major development.

Impact: Developers seeking flexibility on previously granted permissions (particularly for major schemes) will see a notable increase in costs.

4. Discharge of Conditions

  • Householder fee increases from £43 to £86.
  • Other development fee increases from £145 to £298.

Impact: These are often less publicised costs but are crucial once planning permission is granted. Make sure to budget for this potential doubling of fees.

5. Biodiversity Gain Plan

  • The fee for submitting a Biodiversity Gain Plan rises from £145 to £298.

Impact: With the increasing focus on biodiversity net gain, particularly for larger developments, this fee change is an important consideration for your project’s overall costs.

6. Select Major Application Fees

  • Outline application for a building exceeding 3,750 sqm: Increases to £31,385.
  • Agricultural building (1,000 sqm to 4,215 sqm): Increases to £5,077.

Impact: Larger-scale commercial or agricultural developments will face a significantly higher upfront financial commitment.

7. Future Inflation Adjustments

It’s important to note that fees will be further adjusted in line with inflation from 1 April 2026. This marks the first time planning fees will have an automatic, inflation-based increase built into the regulations.

What These Changes Mean for You

Increase in planning application fees in UK

  1. Homeowners: If you’re planning an extension or loft conversion, submitting your application before 1 April 2025 could result in substantial savings.
  2. Developers: Make sure your project budgets account for these new fees, especially if you’re dealing with major or complex developments.
  3. Agricultural Landowners: Take note of the increased fees for new buildings and factor this into your project timelines.

How to Prepare and Next Steps

UK Planning Application Fees to Double in Some Cases from April 2025: Here’s What You Need to Know

Review your project timeline: If possible, fast-track your planning applications before the fee increases.

  1. Consult a planning professional: With higher fees, it’s more crucial than ever to submit robust applications. Mistakes or omissions could lead to costly resubmissions.
  2. Stay informed: Keep an eye on Legislation.gov.uk for the final text of the Statutory Instrument and check Gov.uk regularly for official updates.
  3. Follow Planning by Design on Facebook, LinkedIn and Youtube for all the latest news and updates.

Our Head of Planning, Ellie Laws (Chartered Town Planner), and her team are here to help you navigate these changes. If you have any questions or need assistance with your planning application, please get in touch with us.

Conclusion

These fee increases mark the most significant shift in planning application costs in recent years, with certain fees doubling overnight. Whether you’re a homeowner or a large-scale developer, understanding and planning for these changes will be key to a smooth and cost-effective application process.

If you’d like personalised advice or further clarification on how these new fees might affect your plans, contact our expert planning team today. We’re here to help you make sense of the legislation and ensure that your next project runs smoothly.

Ellie Laws

AuthorEllie LawsCHARTERED TOWN PLANNER


After securing a law degree in 2003, Ellie became a RTPI town planner in 2019 has since gained substantial experience with planning applications of all sizes from householder to major planning applications in a wide range of industries including education, residential, healthcare, commercial, and industrial sectors.

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