Planning consultant fees vary depending on the type of project, the level of support required and the complexity of the planning issues involved.
There is no single standard fee for planning consultancy in the UK. A consultant may charge an hourly rate, agree a fixed fee for a defined service or divide the work into stages.
Market guidance indicates that hourly planning consultancy rates can vary widely. The Country Land and Business Association, for example, has previously cited rates ranging from around £75 to more than £250 per hour, while current consumer guidance gives a broad range of around £130 to £215 per hour for individual consultants. These figures are indicative rather than regulated fee levels.
What Do Planning Consultants Do?
A planning consultant can provide advice and professional support throughout different stages of a development.
Depending on the project, this may include:
- Assessing planning opportunities
- Advising whether permission is required
- Reviewing planning policies
- Assessing planning constraints
- Preparing planning statements
- Preparing or coordinating applications
- Communicating with the local planning authority
- Responding to planning issues
- Supporting negotiations
- Advising on planning conditions
- Supporting planning appeals
Not every project needs all of these services.
For a straightforward home improvement project, you may only need limited planning advice. A larger development may require more extensive involvement.
How Are Planning Consultant Fees Charged?
There are three common approaches.
Hourly rates
The consultant charges for the time spent on your project.
This can be useful where the scope of work is difficult to predict, such as negotiations with a planning officer or advice on an evolving proposal.
However, an hourly rate does not tell you the final cost. You also need to understand how many hours the consultant expects the work to take.
The RTPI’s professional standards state that members should clearly set out the nature of the service and fees in writing, and that an hourly rate without an upper limit or estimate of hours is not normally sufficient.
Fixed fees
A consultant may provide a fixed price for a defined piece of work.
This can make budgeting easier because you know the agreed cost before the work begins.
A fixed fee is only useful if you understand exactly what is included. Check whether it covers meetings, revisions, submission, communication with the council and work after submission.
Staged fees
For larger projects, consultancy can be divided into stages.
For example:
- Initial planning assessment
- Planning strategy
- Pre-application advice
- Application preparation
- Submission
- Post-submission support
- Appeal, if required
This approach allows you to decide at each stage how much further support you need.
What Affects Planning Consultant Fees?
Project complexity
A straightforward extension will generally require less planning input than a major development.
Site constraints
Listed buildings, conservation areas, Green Belt locations, heritage issues and other planning constraints can require more detailed assessment.
Previous planning history
A site with previous refusals or planning disputes may require more investigation before a new proposal is prepared.
Scope of work
A consultant providing a short planning opinion will charge differently from one preparing and managing the entire application.
Location and experience
Rates can vary between consultants and regions. Specialist experience can also affect the fee.
The key point is that there is no universal planning consultant price.
How Much Do Planning Consultants Charge?
Current market sources provide broad ranges rather than a single standard rate.
HomeOwners Alliance currently gives a rough guide of around £130–£215 per hour for an individual planning consultant, while Checkatrade reports an average of around £215 per hour. Other industry commentary gives broader ranges, demonstrating how much fees can vary.
These figures should not be treated as a fixed industry tariff.
A consultant may instead quote a fixed fee based on the work involved, which can make more sense for a defined planning application.
The most useful question is therefore not simply “What is the hourly rate?” but “What work is included and how much will the complete service cost?”
What Should a Planning Consultant Quote Include?
Before appointing a consultant, ask for a written scope of work.
It should explain:
- What services are included
- The agreed fee or charging structure
- Whether VAT applies
- How many meetings are included
- Whether planning statements are included
- Whether application submission is included
- Whether communication with the planning officer is included
- What happens if the council requests further information
- Whether revisions are included
- Whether appeal support is separate
The RTPI recommends clear written terms of engagement and confirmation of additional work before it is undertaken.
Do You Need a Planning Consultant?
Not every application requires one.
You can submit many planning applications yourself, particularly where the proposal is straightforward and you understand the requirements.
Professional planning support can become more useful where:
- The site has planning constraints
- The proposal is complex
- A previous application was refused
- The development involves multiple dwellings
- There are difficult policy issues
- The project involves a change of use
- You need help negotiating with the local authority
Planning Build provides planning permission advice for clients who need help understanding their options.
Planning Consultant Fees vs Planning Application Fees
These are two different costs.
The planning application fee is paid to the relevant local planning authority.
The planning consultant fee is the professional charge for the consultant’s services.
For example, a householder planning application in England currently has a statutory fee of £548, but hiring a planning consultant would be an additional cost.
Keeping these costs separate makes it easier to understand your overall planning budget.
How Can You Keep Planning Consultancy Costs Under Control?
Start with a clearly defined scope.
If you only need an initial assessment, you may not need to pay for full application management.
For a larger project, staged services can also prevent you from committing to every stage before the initial planning position is understood.
It is also worth providing the consultant with as much relevant information as possible, including previous planning decisions, existing drawings and details of the proposal.
For complex projects, feasibility advice and planning strategy can help establish the planning position before you move into a full application.
Planning Consultant Fees: FAQs
How much does a planning consultant charge?
There is no fixed rate. Current market guidance gives broad hourly ranges, with some sources placing individual consultant rates around £130–£215 per hour. Fixed and staged fees are also common.
Do planning consultants charge by the hour?
Some do, but many also offer fixed or staged fees depending on the service.
Is a planning consultant worth the cost?
That depends on your project and how much support you need. Straightforward applications may be manageable without one, while complex or planning-sensitive proposals may benefit from professional input.
Does the planning consultant fee include the council application fee?
Usually not. The statutory application fee is a separate charge.
Should I ask for a fixed fee?
Where the scope is clearly defined, a fixed fee can make budgeting easier. Always check what is included and what would count as additional work.
Get Planning Support From Planning Build
Planning consultant fees can vary considerably, so comparing the headline hourly rate alone does not always give you a useful picture of the overall cost.
Planning Build can help you understand your planning requirements, assess your proposal and identify the level of support your project may need.
If you would like to discuss your development, contact Planning Build to discuss your project.
