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The average cost for planning permission in the UK typically ranges from £206 to £528 for householder applications.
For a typical householder application, such as an extension, the cost is £528 in England. In Wales, it's £190 for a similar application. Full planning applications in England can range from £258 for a single dwelling to £578 per dwelling for larger developments.
In the UK, a property development is nothing without a planning permission being granted; be it a new house, a loft conversion or extension of your kitchen. There is a great deal to learn, though, in the area of costs other than going through the legal framework. Although most homeowners believe that they will only have to pay the application fee, actually, the process of acquiring planning permission is a multi-layered process involving payment of fees up the chain of requirements, including surveys and drawings, consultancy fees, and infrastructure contributions.
This extensive guide contains all the sections of the planning process, but with a keen eye on the actual and current prices, particularly those of the homeowners in the UK and developers in the year 2025. Renovating a semi-detached house in Bristol, or planning a country retreat in Yorkshire? Then this guide is what you need to deal with all the hidden and the not-so-obvious expenditures you can count on such developments costing, with no fluff, no tables, just hard knocks and costs broken down to a penny.
The application fee is only the beginning. It is the fee you pay to your local planning authority (LPA) and is mostly the same price throughout England, but Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland charge their own price.
When it comes to the majority of homeowners who choose to alter their property employing rear extensions, outbuildings or loft conversions.
This is what will be charged per household dwelling. It’s non-refundable.
This is widely adopted by developers, self-builders or commercial operators.
This will enable you to have a preliminary get down that is granted in principle, so that you do not prepare a fully detailed account.
An example is converting a shop to a residential flat.
This is not the whole building, as in most cases, this is per unit of change.
Pre-app advisory is not legally binding, but it saves time and money in the long run. It makes you know whether or not your offer would go through.
Pre-Application Cost Estimates (2025):
Note: Rates are fixed by the individual councils. In London, it can be up to twice the price as in other, smaller local councils.
They are not mandatory, but in complicated apps, objectors or in a sensitive location, planning consultants assist the process of planning. The quality of a Design & Access Statement prepared by a consultant can usually be the difference between approval and non-approval.
Average Prices:
With risky locations or properties bordering conservation lands, it is usually worthwhile to invest in a consultant.
All applications require technical drawings. These are site plans, elevation views, floor plans and sections.
Cost Breakdown:
Architects tend to be more expensive per square foot than either technicians or design-and-build companies, but you obtain the quality of design and success in the planning.
They are commonly needed according to the location, size, and the proposal of your property.
Common Reports and their Prices:
All these can be a term of your application, especially when it comes to developments within conservation zones or in proximity to some public facilities.
You probably will need to make a separate application to allow conditions to be discharged, such as parking layout or material samples, even after permission has been granted.
Make several applications to save money and have several conditions. When they are submitted one by one, it will run up the cost.
The money is used to finance the local infrastructure. It is payable on new residential floorspace (and large extensions over 100m 2 ) in most areas of England and Wales.
CIL Location rates (per m2)
Example:
A 100m² new dwelling in an area with £200/m² CIL would cost £20,000 extra in CIL alone.
In bigger or strategic developments, financial contributions towards education (school), roads or housing (the public one) can be requested by the councils.
These are agreed and legally binding.
In case your application is denied, you are free to challenge it with the Planning Inspectorate.
You have to make an appeal within 12 weeks (householder) or 6 months (full applications).
It all becomes more difficult and costly when dealing with or close to listed buildings.
The Additional Expenses to Look Forward to:
The permission is necessary even for minor repairs on listed properties, and it is always better to enquire.
Scotland:
Wales:
Northern Ireland:
What are the savings, and what is at risk when you do it yourself? Let us break down.
Possible Do-It-Yourself savings:
But side effects are:
In the end, you may save £2,000 upfront but risk far higher costs if the application fails.
Building regulations approval is necessary in ensuring safety and structural integrity, energy, fire, and accessibility, although it does not relate to planning permission.
You do not need to have planning permission, but you do need the building control sign-off.
Approval Options:
Project type-based Fees:
In the case of a private inspector, there is a chance that they will be somewhat more expensive, but they will have a faster turnaround time and be more flexible.
Additional Charges:
These expenses are not exactly related to planning permission, but they usually lie together, and budgeting should be done together.
Unless the right permission is obtained or the terms of approval are violated, you might be subjected to enforcement action when you proceed to carry out work.
Possible Financial Risks:
Even though in many cases, councils will indeed prompt retrospective applications before prosecution, they can issue enforcement notices in the event they think that you have disregarded or circumvented the system. They are binding and time-bound.
The first step in avoiding enforcement is to plan well and approvals undertaken carefully, and also consult your architect or builder in case of necessary changes during the middle of the project.
Although most of the expenses are fixed or obligatory, there are a few brainy solutions that will help you pay less in the course of planning.
Cost-Saving Hints (Without Compromising):
There is also, of course, the purely financial consideration that a good professional will often save money, however high his price may start, by increasing the probability of success, and effecting a saving by obviating appeal or rejection.
To sum up, the cost of planning permission in the UK might seem rather modest at first sight, yet the entire financial implication could often be significantly higher. It would include pre-application guidance and architectural plans all the way through to surveys and the fees charged by consulting firms, along with the statutory charges to be added, including the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) or the Section 106 charge common to many other local planning authorities. Being well informed about these costs, you will be able to create a more precise budget and will not feel surprised when some fees or delays appear.
Better knowledge and advice, talking to someone experienced, and liaising with your local planning authority as soon as possible are the most important steps that may put you in a good position to get the approval and minimise the chances of stop-and-go. With proper planning and working out a strategic approach for your application, you not only save your investment but also provide the means of ensuring a more efficient, bearable development process.
Costs of various services and materials in this cost guide should be taken as estimates. These depend on location, preference and demands in the market.