If you’re planning a building project, it’s important to know about the significant changes to council application fees that came into effect from 1 April 2025. These changes mean higher costs for most applications, so submitting sooner can help reduce the amount you pay.
Current Fees (2024)
Here’s what applicants were paying before the 1 April 2025 increase, including the £70 online service charge.
| Application Type | Current Fee (inc. Service Charge) |
|---|---|
| Householder Planning Application | £328 |
| Lawful Development Certificate (Permitted Development) | £199 |
| Prior Approval (Larger Homes Extension Scheme) | £190 |
| Prior Approval (Other Extensions/Alterations, e.g. new storey) | £328 |
| Full Planning Application (Alterations to Flats) | £532 |
| Full Planning Application (One New Dwelling) | £532 |
| Prior Approval (Change of Use to Residential – MA) | £195 per dwelling |
| Prior Approval (Other Changes of Use) | £190 |
To benefit from the previous fee structure, we advised booking your survey by 14 February 2025 so there was enough time to progress through the architectural process and submit plans before 1 April 2025.
New Fees (From 1 April 2025)
Here’s what applicants can expect to pay from April 2025 onwards, including the £70 online service charge.
| Application Type | Increase | New Fee (inc. Service Charge) |
|---|---|---|
| Householder Planning Application | + £270 | £598 |
| Lawful Development Certificate (Permitted Development) | + £165 | £364 |
| Prior Approval (Larger Homes Extension Scheme) | + £120 | £310 |
| Prior Approval (Other Extensions/Alterations, e.g. new storey) | + £258 | £586 |
| Full Planning Application (Alterations to Flats) | + £126 | £658 |
| Full Planning Application (One New Dwelling) | + £126 | £658 |
| Prior Approval (Change of Use to Residential – MA) | + £125 per dwelling | £320 per dwelling |
| Prior Approval (Other Changes of Use) | + £120 | £310 |
What’s Changing?
1. Annual Fee Increases
From 2025 onwards, planning fees are set to increase every year on 1 April in line with inflation, up to a maximum of 10%.
2. “Free-Go” Removed
If your application is rejected or withdrawn, you will now need to pay the application fee again to resubmit. This change has been in effect since 6 December 2023.
Why Start Your Project Now?
Starting your project before new fee increases take effect can save you hundreds of pounds in application costs. As deadlines approach, demand can also rise, which may lead to delays in surveys, drawings, and submissions.
To benefit from the previous fee structure, we advised booking your survey by 14 February 2025 so there was enough time to progress through the proposed design and planning process before the 1 April 2025 deadline.
What Should I Do Next?
Contact us today to get started. If you’re ready to begin, we can help arrange your survey and guide you through the application process.
If your quote is more than three months old, we will need to provide an updated quote to reflect current pricing. That said, we will always do our best to keep costs as close to the original figure as possible.
If you need more information, we are happy to explain how these fee changes may affect your specific project.
We’re here to help make your project as smooth and cost-effective as possible, and we look forward to hopefully working with you.
Best wishes,
Lily & the Plan It Team
Disclaimer
The information provided in this blog post reflects the most up-to-date planning fee details available at the time of writing. While we always aim for accuracy, final fees are subject to confirmation by the UK Government and may differ slightly when formally announced. We recommend contacting us directly or consulting the Planning Portal for the latest updates before submitting your application.
This article was originally published to explain the 2025 planning fee changes. For the latest application costs, please contact Plan It UK directly before proceeding.
