Upcoming changes to planning fees from 31 March

From 31 March 2025, the cost of submitting a planning application via Planning Portal will increase.
This reflects two key factors:

1. The UK Government’s increase to statutory planning fees from 1 April 2025, which raises costs across the sector, for all parties. Find out more in our blog post ‘Updates to Planning Application Fees in England’.
2. Significant increases in the cost of processing planning applications, including security, payment handling and associated fees, platform maintenance, and support services.

From 31 March 2025, the following will apply:

• Updated Planning Portal service charge: £70.83 +VAT
• Minimum fee threshold increase: From £60 to £100 (applications under £100 will not incur a service charge).

These changes are essential in supporting the continued development and maintenance of Planning Portal’s suite of digital services. While we strive to keep costs as low as possible, this necessary adjustment allows us to maintain a high-quality service while investing in both current and future technologies. It directly funds innovations that enhance efficiency, reduce invalidation, and ensure legislative compliance – ultimately benefiting both applicants and local planning authorities.

Service downtime for fee changes deployment

To facilitate a seamless transition, the site will be taken offline at approximately 17:00 on 31 March, at the close of the business day, to implement the fee changes. This will ensure compliance with the legislative implementation date of 1 April.

Why is the service charge increasing?

This charge enables us to:
✔ Maintain and enhance essential services that support the entire planning and construction sector.
✔ Develop innovative tools and features, utilising new emerging AI technologies to streamline the application process for all users.
✔ Deliver dedicated customer support to assist applicants and planning professionals.
✔ Ensure secure and efficient payment processing for smoother transactions.

Supporting the future of planning and construction

 We understand that the planning and construction landscape is evolving, and we are committed to adapting to these changes. Our goal is to deliver a smarter, faster, and more efficient planning system. Through ongoing investment, we will:

• Provide user-friendly digital solutions that simplify processes and reduce administrative burdens.
• Improve automation and data accuracy, reducing the risk of errors or invalid submissions.
• Ensure compliance with new legislation and policy updates, keeping users informed and prepared.

We appreciate your continued support as we build a more advanced, efficient, and intelligent planning system for the future.

For further information please contact support@planningportal.co.uk to speak to one of our support team.