Understanding the New Planning Fees in 2025

Planning fees have seen significant increases in recent years, rising from £202 prior to 2024 to £300, and most recently to £346 in December 2024 for Residential Development (Existing Dwellings - 1 dwelling). These adjustments align with inflation and aim to better fund local planning authorities. With further annual increases planned (including in the summer of 2025), it’s essential for homeowners, developers, and architects to stay informed.

To give you a clearer picture, here are the key fee changes across various categories of development:

Residential Development

• Existing Dwellings

  • Enlargement or alteration (1 dwelling): £346

  • Enlargement or alteration (2 or more dwellings): £692

  • Ancillary structures or boundary enclosures: £346

• New Dwellings

  • Up to 10 dwellinghouses: £691 per dwellinghouse

  • 11-49 dwellinghouses: £691 for each of the first 10, £519 for each additional dwellinghouse

  • 50 or more dwellinghouses: £691 for each of the first 10, £519 for each additional up to 49, and £288 for each beyond 50 (capped at £172,856)

Non-Residential Buildings

• Construction of new buildings:

  • Up to 50 sq. metres: £346

  • 51-100 sq. metres: £691

  • Over 100 sq. metres: £691 plus £691 per additional 100 sq. metres up to 4,000 sq. metres

  • Over 4,000 sq. metres: £27,640 plus £346 per additional 100 sq. metres (capped at £172,856)

Agricultural Buildings

• Ground area up to 500 sq. metres: £576

• Ground area exceeding 500 sq. metres: £576 plus £576 for each additional 100 sq. metres (capped at £28,809)

Change of Use

• Changing a building into dwellinghouses:

  • Up to 10 dwellinghouses: £691 each

  • 11-49 dwellinghouses: £691 for first 10, £519 for each additional

  • 50 or more dwellinghouses: £691 for first 10, £519 for next 39, £288 for each additional (capped at £172,856)

• Material change in use of buildings or land:

  • £576 per 0.1 hectare (capped at £5,762)

Conclusion

Being aware of the recent and future increases in planning fees can help you budget your projects more effectively. These changes reflect efforts to modernise the planning system and support local authorities in handling applications more efficiently. Whether you're planning a small extension, a new build, or a more extensive development, anticipating these costs can help you stay prepared.

At Houlet Studio, we’re committed to guiding our clients through the planning process. From helping you submit compliant applications to designing with budgets in mind, we’re here to ensure your project runs smoothly. If you have any questions about how these changes might affect your plans, feel free to get in touch with us.