As new Building Control requirements come into force in Wales on 1 July 2026, Planning Portal is introducing a series of updates to its online application service. The changes will align the service with the new legislation, helping applicants and local authorities adapt smoothly to the updated process. You can find more information below:
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Planning application activity eased in May 2026, with 42,773 applications submitted during the month. This represents an 11% decrease compared to May 2025 and a 5% decrease compared to April 2026.
While monthly fluctuations are a normal feature of planning activity, May saw fewer applications submitted across all regions and several key application categories.
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New study links BNG reforms to reduced access to nature
Recent research from the Wildlife and Countryside Link has highlighted concerns that forthcoming changes to Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements could disproportionately affect poorer communities.
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Social Housing Bill proposes major Right to Buy reforms and domestic abuse protections
The government’s Social Housing Bill introduces a significant overhaul of the Right to Buy scheme, alongside new protections for victims of domestic abuse.
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Planning can be complex, nuanced, and at times frustrating, particularly for larger or more detailed projects. At Planning Portal, we provide guidance to help applicants understand and navigate the process, but we recognise that guidance alone isn’t always enough. Specialist planning and design support can make a real difference – that’s why we work with partners who can offer more hands-on support across projects where it’s needed.
Homz is one of those trusted partners.
Read more…From 1 April 2026, the Planning Portal service charge for planning applications will increase by £5 to £75.83 +VAT per application submission.
We recognise that any change to fees requires careful consideration, particularly in the current economic environment. This update reflects continued investment in the resilience, security and development of the national planning platform, ensuring it remains legislatively compliant, reliable, authoritative and fit for the future.
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At Planning Portal, we know local authorities are under sustained pressure – from rising workloads to shifting policy and stretched resources. That’s why we’re committed to supporting you where it matters most: improving submission quality at source, reducing validation demands on your team, and streamlining processes before applications reach you.
As sector partners, we continually review and refine our planning and building control services to ensure they work effectively for all our stakeholders. Shaped by user research and close collaboration with local authorities, our programme of Q1 and Q2 enhancements is designed to reduce administrative burden, improve validation rates, and strengthen confidence in the applications you receive – supporting more streamlined and resilient planning processes for everyone.
Below is a summary of the key changes coming in the first part of 2026 – and what they mean for your authority.
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At Planning Portal, we’re always looking for ways to improve the applicant experience – enabling smoother submissions and giving you the best possible start to your application journey.
We continually refine our planning and building control services to ensure they work as effectively as possible for all users, with improvements guided by user feedback, research, and ongoing collaboration with local authorities and industry partners.
In that spirit, we’ve kicked off 2026 with a series of practical system upgrades designed to streamline the submission process, reduce errors, and improve validation success – supporting smoother processes for you.
Below, you’ll find a summary of the key updates being rolled out in early 2026, and what they mean for you and your applications.
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2026 has begun on a solid footing for planning activity. In January, 44,262 applications were submitted – 2% higher than December’s total, and just 3% below January 2025.
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At Planning Portal, we’re committed to empowering our applicants with clear, reliable information to help them make informed decisions. With this in mind, we’d like to let you know about the forthcoming annual fee increase – affecting planning application fees in England. This increase is set by government and linked to the consumer price index. Changes will take affect from 1 April 2026.
The service charge in England and Wales is also increasing from 31 March. Read more about the change.
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