Planning Portal Service Charges: What You Need to Know Before You Apply

If you're preparing to submit a planning application, it's worth taking a few minutes to understand changes to the Planning Portal service charges that may apply. These charges help support the digital services and tools that make applying online via The Planning Portal simpler, quicker and more convenient.

How much does it cost?

For planning applications with a statutory application fee of more than £100, a Planning Portal service charge is payable when the application is submitted online via the Planning Portal application services.   Recent revisions see the introduction of charging bands based on application types and complexity rather than a flat rate charge.

Applications are now placed into one of three charging bands:

Band 0 – No Planning Portal charge for eligible application types.
Band 1 – £99 (including VAT) for less complex applications.
Band 2 – £149 (including VAT) for more complex application types requiring enhanced platform functionality. 

Supporting a better planning experience

The Planning Portal's mission is to make planning and building services simpler and more accessible for applicants, agents and local authorities. Its vision is to deliver a first-class, world-leading online application service that helps customers navigate the planning process with confidence. Find out more about The Planning Portal.

Ready to apply?

The Planning Portal provides a direct route through to us as the Local Planning Authority, with new application submissions hitting our back office systems as soon as payment is reconciled and the application is released, speeding up the process for all parties.

Before submitting your application via The Planning Portal however, take a moment to check the fees that may apply. Using the Planning Portal's online fee calculator will help you understand both the statutory planning fee and any associated service charge, ensuring your application is submitted correctly and without unnecessary delays. 

Once you are ready, visit The Planning Portal to build and submit your planning application.

The small print!

Service charges are not funds received by the Local Planning Authority and are therefore out of our control. It is therefore entirely at your discretion as to whether you choose to accept the charge and submit via the Planning Portal or not. Other routes of submission are available. Application fee refunds, where applicable, will typically exclude the service charge. Requests for refunds of the service charge must be taken up directly with The Planning Portal.