Council says new planning fees needed to cover rising costs

Why it matters: The new fee structure, approved in September, aims to ensure the council can properly resource its planning department while maintaining service quality for residents and developers.

The big picture: The changes include:

• A new £400 monitoring fee for Section 106 agreements

• £200 pre-application fees for home extensions and listed building works

• Higher fees for larger developments, ranging from £400 to £3,800

• A £50 charge for general planning enquiries

Yes, but: The council cannot raise fees for standard planning applications, which are set nationally. These changes only affect pre-application advice and monitoring fees.

Between the lines: Local authorities across the UK are increasingly moving towards full cost recovery models for planning services to maintain service levels despite budget pressures.

By the numbers:

• £200 for homeowner pre-application advice

• £400 for minor developments

• £3,800 for major developments

• £50 for general enquiries

What's next: The new fees were approved by the Director of Operations and Place, in consultation with council leaders and the Portfolio Holder for Planning, following an executive meeting on 10 September but were only published by the council on 07 November.