Planning application fees to increase from 1 April 2025

Planning papers on a table

Photograph: iStock

The government has confirmed to the NFU that planning fees for agricultural barns between 1,000 metres and 4,215 square metres will rise from a single fee of £624 to £5,077.

After the NFU sought answers on why such a rise was occurring, the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government confirmed that a lower of fee of £624 was only supposed to cover an initial 540sqm, with every additional 75sqm adding an additional £624 to the application fee.

Planning fees will also be rising annually according to a new index, which will see all other fees rise by 1.7% in 2025. The percentage increase is calculated from the Consumer Price Index 12-month rate.

The full list of changes relevant to agriculture are listed below.

Price differences before and after 1 April 2025

Agricultural buildings

Size Fee pre 1 April 2025 Fee post 1 April 2025 Price difference
Below 465 square metres £120 £122 £2
More than 465 but not more than 540 square metres £578 £588 £10
More than 540 but less than 1,000 square metres £578 for each additional 75 square metres £588 for each additional 75 square metres £10
Between 1,000 and 4,215 square metres*
*Planning fee to be inflated after previous error.
£624 for the first 1,000 square metres £5,077 for first 1,000 square metres + £635 for each additional 75 square metres £4,453
More than 4,215 square metres £30,860 + £186 for each additional 75 square metres £31,385 + £189 for each additional 75 square metres £525 + £3 for each additional 75 square metres

Erection of glasshouses (on land used for agricultural purposes)

Size Fee pre 1 April 2025 Fee post 1 April 2025 Price difference
No more than 465 square metres £120 £122 £2
More than 465 but less than 1,000 square metres £3,225 £3,280 £55
1,000 square metres or more £3,483 £3,542 £59

Erection/alterations/replacement of plant and machinery

Size Fee pre 1 April 2025 Fee post 1 April 2025 Price difference
Site area less than 1 hectare £578 for each 0.1 hectare £588 for each 0.1 hectare £10
Between 1 hectare and 5 hectares £624 for each 0.1 hectare £635 for each 0.1 hectare £11
More than 5 hectares £30,860 + £186 for each additional 0.1 hectare £31,385 + £189 for each additional 0.1 hectare £525 + £3 for each additional 0.1 hectare

A full list of fees for after 1 April 2025 can be found at: planningportal.co.uk | Forthcoming fees for planning applications in England.


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