The cost of obtaining planning permission has two components: the statutory application fee paid to the local planning authority, and the professional fees paid to the architect, planning consultant, or other specialist who prepares and manages the application. The statutory fee is set nationally; the professional fees vary with the scope and complexity of the project.

Statutory Planning Application Fees in England

Planning application fees in England are set by central government and apply uniformly across all local planning authorities. As of the most recent fee schedule, a householder application, covering extensions, outbuildings, loft conversions, and similar works to an existing dwelling, costs two hundred and fifty-eight pounds. A prior approval application for a larger home extension costs one hundred and twenty pounds.

A full planning application for a new dwelling costs five hundred and seventy-eight pounds per dwelling unit. An application for two to fifty dwellings is charged at the same per-unit rate. Applications involving change of use, listed building consent, and other categories have their own fee schedules published by DLUHC.

These fees are subject to periodic government review and may have changed since the time of writing. The planning portal on the relevant council's website allows applicants to calculate the fee for specific proposal types.

Professional Fees for Planning Applications

The statutory fee is typically a minor part of the total cost of obtaining planning permission. Professional fees for preparing the application usually significantly exceed the application fee, particularly for complex or sensitive proposals.

Architect or planning consultant

For a householder extension, an architect who prepares the planning drawings and submits the application typically charges one thousand to three thousand pounds, depending on the complexity of the design and the level of service provided. For a new dwelling, design fees to planning stage might be three thousand to eight thousand pounds. For a major development proposal, fees are substantially higher.

Supporting documents

Some planning applications require supporting documents including design and access statements, heritage impact assessments, ecological surveys, transport assessments, or flood risk assessments. Each of these adds to the cost. An ecological survey might cost five hundred to two thousand pounds; a heritage assessment for a listed building application might cost one thousand to five thousand pounds.

Appeal Costs

If a planning application is refused and the applicant appeals to the Planning Inspectorate, the appeal itself has no statutory fee. However, the cost of professional representation at the appeal, whether written representations, a hearing, or a public inquiry, can be substantial. A written representations appeal managed by a planning consultant typically costs two thousand to five thousand pounds in professional fees. A hearing or inquiry is significantly more expensive.

Summary

The statutory fee for a householder planning application is two hundred and fifty-eight pounds. A new dwelling application costs five hundred and seventy-eight pounds per unit. These fees are a modest proportion of the total cost of obtaining planning permission; architect and planning consultant fees of one thousand to eight thousand pounds are the more significant expense for most residential applications. Pre-application advice reduces the risk of refusal for complex proposals.