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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.
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.
Below is a summary of the most significant fee increases, as collated by our Head of Planning, Ellie Laws (Chartered Town Planner):
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.
Impact: This effectively doubles the cost of many prior approval applications. If your proposal falls into one of these categories, plan your budget accordingly.
A new three-tier fee structure applies to Section 73 (applications to vary or remove conditions on existing planning permissions):
Impact: Developers seeking flexibility on previously granted permissions (particularly for major schemes) will see a notable increase in costs.
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.
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.
Impact: Larger-scale commercial or agricultural developments will face a significantly higher upfront financial commitment.
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.
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.
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.