The planning application cost depends on the type of development, the location of the property and the amount of professional and technical information required.
For a typical householder application in England, the statutory planning fee is currently £548 from 1 April 2026. However, this is not necessarily the total amount you will spend on your application. Drawings, planning advice, surveys and specialist reports may all add to the overall cost.
Understanding these costs before you begin can help you prepare a realistic budget and avoid unexpected expenses.
What Is Included in the Planning Application Cost?
It is useful to think of the cost in two parts:
- The statutory application fee paid to the local planning authority.
- The professional and supporting costs involved in preparing the application.
The statutory fee is determined by the type of application and, for some developments, factors such as the number of dwellings or site area.
Professional costs are different. These depend on who prepares the application, how complicated the proposal is and what supporting information is required.
For example, a straightforward house extension may need relatively simple drawings, while a larger residential development could require planning consultancy, architectural work, ecology, transport, drainage and other specialist input.
How Much Does a Planning Application Cost in England?
There is no single planning application fee.
From 1 April 2026, a standard householder application for the enlargement, improvement or alteration of a single dwellinghouse costs £548. Certain ancillary works within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse have a fee of £272. Permission in Principle is charged at £531 per 0.1 hectare or part thereof.
Larger residential schemes are charged differently.
For full applications involving new dwellinghouses, the current fee is £610 per dwelling where fewer than 10 dwellings are proposed, and £659 per dwelling for developments involving 10 to 50 dwellings. Developments involving more than 50 dwellings have a different calculation and maximum fee.
The correct fee therefore depends on the application rather than simply the value of the proposed construction.
Planning Portal Charges
If you submit an application online through the Planning Portal, there can also be a separate service charge.
From 1 April 2026, the Planning Portal announced a service charge of £75.83 plus VAT per application submission for applications within the relevant charging arrangements.
The Planning Portal also explains that its application charges are separate from the planning fee itself, with different application bands.
This means your budget should distinguish between the local authority’s statutory fee and any applicable submission or platform charge.
What Other Costs Can Be Involved?
Architectural drawings
Most planning applications need drawings showing the existing property or site and the proposed development.
The complexity depends on the project. A small alteration will generally require less design information than a new-build development.
Planning Build can support projects requiring architectural design.
Planning consultant fees
A planning consultant may be useful where the proposal is complex, the site has planning constraints or there is a history of refusal.
Consultants may advise on the development strategy, prepare planning statements, communicate with the local authority and support the application through determination.
Fees vary considerably depending on the scope of work and the consultant’s experience. Industry guidance and market sources show that consultants may charge hourly rates, fixed fees or staged fees rather than one standard price.
Surveys and specialist reports
Some projects require additional technical information.
Depending on the site, this could include:
- Ecology surveys
- Tree surveys
- Flood risk assessments
- Heritage assessments
- Transport assessments
- Drainage information
- Environmental reports
Not every planning application requires these. The need for a report depends on the proposal and the characteristics of the site.
Does a More Expensive Application Have a Better Chance of Approval?
No.
The statutory fee does not determine whether planning permission will be granted. A higher fee generally reflects the type or scale of the application rather than the quality of the proposal.
Likewise, spending more on professional services does not guarantee approval.
The planning authority assesses the proposal against relevant planning policies and material considerations. Good preparation can help ensure that relevant information is properly presented, but there is no guaranteed outcome.
How Can You Keep Planning Application Costs Under Control?
Start by establishing what you actually need.
Before commissioning extensive drawings or reports, consider:
- Whether planning permission is required.
- Which type of application is appropriate.
- What information the local authority is likely to require.
- Whether permitted development rights could apply.
- Whether specialist surveys are necessary.
- Whether professional planning advice would be useful.
Our planning permission advice service can help you understand the planning requirements before you commit to an application.
For more complex sites, feasibility advice and planning strategy can also help identify potential planning issues at an earlier stage.
What Happens If the Application Is Refused?
The planning fee does not guarantee approval.
If an application is refused, you may need to revise the proposal and submit another application or consider an appeal, depending on the circumstances.
A second application can create additional professional and application costs, which is why understanding the planning requirements before submission is important.
Planning Build also provides support relating to planning appeals where an appeal is appropriate.
How Long Does the Cost Estimate Need to Cover?
The planning application fee is only one part of the budget. You should also consider whether the project may require additional work after submission.
For example, a planning officer may request clarification or further information. Your consultant or designer may need to respond, and conditions attached to an approval can require further applications or technical information.
A realistic budget should therefore cover the application preparation stage as well as reasonable follow-up work.
Planning Application Cost: FAQs
What is the average planning application cost?
There is no single average cost because fees depend on the type and scale of development. In England, a typical householder application currently costs £548, before considering professional and supporting costs.
Does the planning application fee include drawings?
No. The statutory application fee is separate from the cost of preparing architectural drawings.
Are planning consultant fees included in the application fee?
No. A planning consultant’s professional fee is separate from the local authority’s application fee.
Can I submit a planning application myself?
Yes. You do not generally have to appoint a planning consultant. However, complex proposals may benefit from professional advice.
Does paying the planning fee guarantee permission?
No. The fee covers the processing of the application and does not guarantee a particular decision.
Get Help With Your Planning Application
The planning application cost will depend on your specific development and the level of preparation it requires.
Planning Build can help you understand the appropriate planning route, assess the requirements for your proposal and prepare for submission.
If you are planning a development and want to understand the likely costs before you begin, contact Planning Build to discuss your project.
