How Much Does a Planning Application Cost?

How Much Does a Planning Application Cost?

One of the first questions that anyone wants to know, when it comes to submitting a planning application is “how much is this going to cost?”

This is understandable. Gaining planning is only one part of a large investment in development, or making changes to your home. Having a clear idea of budgets is helpful in being able to balance all of the competing demands that there will be on your finances.

The problem is, however, that it is often difficult to give a simple answer. It will depend on what sort of planning application you are making, where you are making it, and what costs you are including (so, for instance, do you consider the production of the plans you need to accompany the planning application a “planning cost” or a “project cost”?)

The costs of submitting the planning application themselves tend to be the tip of a much larger iceberg. 

What is the Cost of Submitting a Planning Application?

Nevertheless, it is still helpful to go through some of the main planning applications you may be looking at and give an outline of the costs involved.

The first one is Pre Planning Application Advice. This is where you have a relatively informal discussion about your planning application before you submit it with a planning officer. Most Local Authorities charge for this service, although a small number do not. Prices vary, but will usually be between £100-£200.

If you are looking at making relatively minor changes to your home that are not allowed via the Permitted Development route, then you will probably be looking at a Householder Planning Application. This is basically for proposals to alter or enlarge a single house, including adding any works in the garden/boundary area. It would cover extensions, conservatories, loft conversions and outbuildings such as garages. The standard cost for this planning application would be £206, with a small administration fee on top of that. 

It is when you get on to planning applications for larger projects that the costs become more complicated – for example Outline Planning Permission. Outline Planning Permission is where the Planning Authority gives permission in principle for a development, but then sets out a number of areas where clarification is needed before Full Permission is granted. The cost of a planning application for Outline Planning Permission is based not on a standard fee, but on a calculation, so you will need to get your tape measure and calculator out! 

If the site is less than 2.5 hectares, then the cost is calculated as £462 for each 0.1 hectare (or part thereof). If the site is larger than 2.5 hectares, then the cost is set at £11,432, plus an extra £138 for each additional 0.1 hectare. The cost is capped at £150,000.

For full planning applications, there are various costs depending on what you are seeking to do. The most common ones that we come across are for alterations to homes (so larger extensions, adding garages etc). The cost of these applications is £206 for a single home or £407 for two or more homes including flats.

The other Full Planning Application class to consider is if you are building new houses. If you are building less than 50 homes (which includes flats), then the cost is calculated at £462 per home. If it is more than 50 homes then it is a set fee of £22,859, plus £138 for each additional home. 

The reality is, however, that the costs of submission/planning application needs to be seen only as part of a much larger picture. The cost of gathering together the sort of information that needs to be submitted will often be more than the filing cost of the planning application, particularly for householders.

This is where accessing reliable professional guidance, for instance from a Planning Consultant, can help – by ensuring that you are submitting what is needed and you get it right the first time. It is also important to select the right professionals to support you – there is no point paying for a world class architect if you are simply building a new garage, but at the same time you need someone who can produce the sort of accurate drawings that the Planning Authority will expect. Again, it is worth speaking to a Planning Consultant, who may have a network of local professionals who will be the right fit for what you require. They are likely to be able to advise on various consultants including building surveyors, environmental consultants, structural engineers etc.

At UK Planning Consultants, we offer assistance with Planning Applications in the following locations: Planning Applications Bristol, Planning Applications London, Planning Applications Manchester.