Overview

This bill amends the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, allowing local authorities in England to set their own fees for planning applications. The aim is to ensure that the costs of processing these applications are fully covered by the fees paid.

Description

The bill modifies Section 303 of the 1990 Act. Key changes include:

• Local Authority Fee Setting: Local planning authorities in England will gain the power to determine the fees charged for planning applications and deemed applications.
• Cost Recovery: Authorities must set fees to cover the reasonable costs of processing applications.
• Fee Calculation: Authorities can define how fees are calculated (including who is responsible for the calculation).
• Removal of Central Control: A specific paragraph (5)(c) in the original Act, likely relating to central government control over fee setting, is removed.

The bill applies to England and comes into force immediately upon passage.

Government Spending

The bill aims to shift the financial burden of processing planning applications from central government to applicants. While initial government spending might be affected as the transition occurs, the long-term effect is expected to be a reduction in government expenditure on planning services. Precise figures are not provided in the bill itself.

Groups Affected

• Local Planning Authorities: Increased autonomy in managing their budgets and resources for planning applications.
• Applicants for Planning Permission: Potentially higher costs for planning applications, depending on the fees set by individual local authorities. This impact varies by application type and location.
• Developers: Similar to applicants, developers may face varied costs depending on location and the nature of their projects.

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