PLANNING application fees are required when submitting the vast majority of applications to councils. These fees are currently set at a national level.

However, last month the Government published a consultation document on their proposed changes to the planning application fees regime in England and outlines a number of potential options.

The Government’s preferred option is to decentralise responsibility, giving local planning authorities (LPAs) control in setting their own planning application fee structure in place of the current national system.

The Government anticipates that this option will enable LPAs to establish their own charging schedules, which will recover the full costs outlaid by individual authorities in processing and determining applications.

It is believed this option will also establish the principle that the user should pay for the service they receive.

The Government anticipates that, on average, fees will increase by approximately 10-15 per cent, allowing LPAs to recoup the full cost of determining applications.

It is expected that a small number of applicants will benefit from reduced fees in authorities that over-recover through fees.

Safeguards have been identified in the proposal to manage the risk of LPAs increasing fees in excess of their cost recovery and any less efficient authorities charging higher fees as a result of their extra resource requirements.

LPAs that significantly increase their fees in comparison to other LPAs will also be required by the Government to justify that increase.

There is, however, no information provided by the Government to identify the instances in which a higher cost would be justified. The Government also explains that an imposed cap on fees would not be required as sufficient safeguards will be implemented.

In the event that the Government’s preferred option for a decentralised fee structure is adopted, there will be a sixmonth transition period for LPAs to develop their own charging regime.

It is yet to be determined what implications will arise from a potential decentralised fee structure, in particular, how the anticipated fee increase will impact on applicants, including developers, householders and businesses.

The document is open for consultation until January 7 and is available to view on the Communities and Local Government website.

■ Louise Oakley is a planning consultant with BHP Develop and can be contacted on 0191-221-0898.