Decentralisation Minister, Greg Clark has issued a written statement this afternoon, announcing an increase in planning application fees of 15%, which will take effect in the autumn.Current fee rates were set in 2008 and the proposed increase is described by Clark a "one-off adjustment to up-rate fees in line with inflation".
The increase is intended to address a shortfall in fee income against the cost of processing applications, the balance of which Clark says, "has to be subsidised by ordinary council tax payers, who end up subsidising the planning process".
The announcement seems to have ended the possibility of Local Authorities being able to set their own planning application fee rates - that change to the present system was subject to consultation in November 2010, launched by Greg Clark.