Planning Minister John Healey has announced a freeze on planning application fees.
Fees were expected to rise a further 10 per cent on the back of a 23 per cent rise in 2008. Increased revenue for Local Planning Authorities could have been as much as £23m, but Government has acted to prevent additional financial burden being passed onto the development and construction industries.
Additionally, the anticipated introduction of fees for planning appeals has been postponed indefinitely for the time being. Provisions of the Planning Act 2008 permit the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) to charge for planning appeals for the first time, but the Government has decided not to progress this in the current economic climate.
Mark Dixon
