Planning

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You can now view and comment on planning applications on our planning portal. Under the same link, you will also find an interactive map to assist in planning application searches.

Our planning enforcement portal is online, you can now search and submit enforcement enquiries.

The full transition to a new software provider is experiencing delays. Currently we have a backlog in processing new applications and in adding comments to existing applications. We are also experiencing delays at issuing decision notices and providing pre-application responses. Currently we are allocating most applications to our technical team (who will start the process of validation)  for those applications submitted to the Planning Portal on November 9. We will update this on a weekly basis. Our teams are working hard to get these services operating fully as soon as possible. We appreciate your ongoing patience.  

Following debates in Parliament, the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 have been approved and made on 8 November 2023. Change come into force from the 6December.

The regulations do the following:

• Increase planning application fees by 35% for applications for major development and 25% for all other applications.
• Introduce an annual indexation of planning applications fees, capped at 10%, from 1 April 2025.
• Remove the fee exemption for repeat applications (the ‘free-go’). An applicant will still be able to benefit from a free-go if their application was withdrawn or refused in the preceding 12 months, subject to all other conditions for the free-go being met.
• Reduce the Planning Guarantee for non-major planning applications from 26 to 16 weeks.
• Introduce a new prior approval fee of £120 for applications for prior approval for development by the Crown on closed defence sites.

Please refer to the Planning Portal website for further guidance.