The increase
Planning fees in England had been increased only rarely, and councils’ planning departments were under-resourced. From 6 December 2023 the government raised fees for major applications by 35% and for all other applications by 25%. The money was intended to improve council capacity and performance.
Resubmissions
The fee exemption for some repeat applications was removed. However, if your application was refused or withdrawn in the previous 12 months, you can usually resubmit a similar scheme on the same site without a fee, provided the other conditions are met.
The Planning Guarantee
If a council fails to decide a non-major application within 16 weeks (previously 26), and no extension of time has been agreed, the applicant can claim a refund of the fee. It is a useful reminder to agree extensions of time carefully.
Since then
Householder fees more than doubled in April 2025, and fees now rise each year with inflation.
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Sources
This article is general information about planning in England at the date shown. It is not advice on any particular site, and the law and policy may have changed since. Please speak to us before relying on it.