Ellie Ames 13 September 2023

Councils ‘spending £5m a week to subsidise planning services’

Councils ‘spending £5m a week to subsidise planning services’ image
Image: Romolo Tavani / Shutterstock.com

Subsidising planning services is costing authorities almost £5m a week as they await a proposed fee increase to help cover the cost of processing applications, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).

In a policy paper accompanying the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which is being debated in the House of Lords, the Government has proposed raising planning fees by 35% for major applications and 25% for minor and other applications.

The LGA has urged the Government to ‘urgently’ make Parliamentary time to introduce the uplift.

Planning fees do not currently cover the cost of processing planning applications, with 305 of 343 local authority planning departments operating in a deficit totalling £245.4m in 2020-21, according to the LGA.

Modelling suggests that fees would need to be increased by 57% to make up the deficit, highlighting the need for councils to be able to set fees at a local level, the LGA has said.

LGA planning spokesperson Cllr Darren Rodwell said: ‘It is good the Government has recognised the resource issues facing council planning teams and announced it will increase planning fees.

‘While this will not resolve all the capacity challenges within planning departments or prevent a significant national funding shortfall, it is vital the Government does not delay introducing the fee uplift, or taxpayers could be faced with a cost of subsidising the planning system to the tune of almost £5m a week.

‘Only by giving councils the flexibility to set planning fees at a local level can they cover their full costs relating to planning.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Casual Duty Managers (Sports Centres)

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£14.28 per hour plus 12.07% holiday relief pay al
Casual Duty Managers (Sports Centres)
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Community Support Worker - Centralised Safeguarding Triage

Essex County Council
£25395.00 - £32131.00 per annum + +26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Community Support Worker - Centralised Safeguarding TriagePermanent, Full Time£25,395 to £32,131 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Mechanical Engineer (Gas) - Harlow District Council

Essex County Council
Up to £450.0000 per day
Mechanical Engineer (Gas) Location, HarlowFull time, Temporary 6-12 Months £350.88 PAYE / £450.00 Umbrella Closing Date
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Principal Planner - Basildon Borough Council

Essex County Council
£50 - £55 per hour
Principal Planner - Basildon Borough Council Full-Time, Temporary 6 Months Contract 36.25 hours£50-£55 per hour Umbrella Closing Date
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Principal Systems Analyst Applications

Oxfordshire County Council
£46412 - £49282
The ICT Principal Systems Analyst will be the subject matter expert on the Children's Social Care and Early Help Applications. They will be aware of and will contribute to Application roadmap developments, keep abreast of legislative changes and customer Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council
Linkedin Banner