Mo money, no problems?

The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 have been made.

Therefore, the increase to planning fees applies from 6 December 2023. Fee levels will be reviewed no later than three years following implementation and raised in line with inflation each April[1]. This means applications submitted on or after 6 December 2023 will use the new fee regime, subject to transitional and savings provisions [2]

The headlines are as follows:
  1. A 35% initial increase in planning application fees for major applications;
  2. A 25% increase for all other applications which include prior approval applications, minor and householder applications;
  3. Fees to rise yearly with inflation from 1 April 2025 (capped at 10%, measured by the Consumer Price Index from the preceding September);
  4. Removal of the ‘free go’ for repeat applications;
  5. A reduction in the ‘planning guarantee period’ for non-major applications from 26 weeks to 16 weeks, unless extended in exceptional circumstances; and
  6. No ringfencing of planning fees.