An increase in planning application fees will formally come into effect in England on Wednesday 6 December 2023.

The new fees have been introduced by the Government through the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 and are intended to generate a greater level of investment for local authority planning services – given existing funding shortfalls – in order to deliver enhanced resourcing and an improved service overall.

For major planning applications, applicable fees will rise by 35 per cent. Other applications will see a 25 per cent increase. Furthermore, planning application fees will also be adjusted annually from 1 April 2025 based on the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) from the previous September, with any annual fee increases to “be in line with inflation, or if lower, 10 per cent”.

Importantly, the 2023 regulations also remove the previous fee exemption granted for repeat applications, more commonly referred to as a ‘free-go’, for those applications submitted after 6 December 2023. Applicants can still benefit from a ‘free-go’ if an application of the same description of character has been refused or withdrawn in the 12 months prior to this date “subject to all other conditions for the free-go being met” as confirmed by Chief Planner, Joanna Averley. It is inferred that current, live applications refused or withdrawn after 6 December 2023 will not benefit from a free-go. 

Amongst other changes, the Planning Guarantee for non-major planning applications has been reduced, from 26 weeks to 16 weeks. 

It is understood that the Planning Portal will be prepared to implement the increased fees immediately from 6 December. Applicants should therefore be aware of the incoming changes, and plan accordingly with this transition date in mind.

A comparative summary of the respective fee changes for several typical application types is provided below. To clarify, this is not an exhaustive list. As ever, if in doubt seek advice. 

Further information

Contact Jack Conroy and Matt Richards