OpenConsultation consultationoutcome

Fees for planning applications

Applies to England

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Detail of outcome

This response outlines a new national default fee schedule including new and restructured fee categories, as well as further detail on the principles behind local fee setting, the proposed statutory consultee surcharge and the future of discretionary services.

The new fee schedule will reduce the shortfall currently facing local planning authorities by setting fees at an estimated 90% cost recovery.

This will drive better performance among local planning authorities, supporting the essential delivery of housing and infrastructure our communities need.


Original consultation

Summary

This consultation seeks views on proposals to establish a new national default fee schedule for planning applications and on the principles of local fee setting.

This consultation closesran atfrom
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Consultation description

This consultation seeks views on proposals to:

  • establish a new national default fee schedule, based on 90% of estimated costs, to bring planning fees to a level closer to cost recovery and act as a baseline from which a new local fee setting model will operate
  • introduce new fees and restructure existing fee categories in order to reduce complexity for users
  • implement a surcharge on planning fees for statutory consultees, set in the region of 10% of the national default fee
  • establish the key principles behind local fee setting, as well as seek views on the potential to implement a cap on locally set fees
  • review the future role of discretionary services such as Planning Performance Agreements and pre-application advice in light of proposed increases to default fees and the introduction of the local variation model

Documents

Ways to respond

or

Email to:

planningfees@communities.gov.uk

Write to:

Fees for Planning Applications Consultation
Third Floor, Fry Building
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Updates to this page

Published 23 March 2026
Last updated 16 July 2026 Show all updates
  1. Government response to the consultation added.

  2. First published.

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