What fee is charged when a planning application covers multiple categories of development

When a full planning permission, lawful development certificate, or reserved matters application covers more than one category of development (as per the fees regulations¹), then it’s not simply a case of adding all the fees for each category together and paying the total.

Instead there are rules in the fee regulations², depending on which categories of development are included, to determine what fee should be paid.

The Planning Portal fee calculators automatically apply the relevant rules, which is why you may see totals for individual categories that are not all reflected in the final fee amount.

Calculation rules

Initially, the individual fee for each separate category of development should be calculated.

Then:

1. Where the application includes 'New dwellinghouses' and erection of buildings only, the fee due is:

• The fee for the new dwellinghouses; added to
• The highest fee due for the erection of buildings

2. Where the application includes 'New dwellinghouses', erection of buildings and/or other development (including changes of use), the fee due is the highest of either:

• The fee for the new dwellinghouses added to the highest fee due for the erection of buildings (as per above); or
• The highest fee due for the other development

3. Where the application covers mixed development (excluding 'New dwellinghouses'; but including changes of use), the fee due is the highest fee from all relevant fee categories

Additionally, for lawful development certificates only:

4. Where the application covers existing use(s) and any other matter constituting a failure to comply with any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission has been granted, the fee is:

• The fee for the existing use(s), which may be subject to the rules above; added to
• The fee for the previous failure to comply with conditions or limitations

Further information

Full details are available in:

• Government guidance³;
• The fees regulations (Schedule 1; Part 1; Chapter 3, Paragraphs 13 and 14)⁴;
• For lawful development certificates, in the fees regulations (Regulation 11)⁵.

1. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/2920/schedule/1/part/2
2. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/2920/schedule/1/part/1/chapter/3
3. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fees-for-planning-applications#mixed-development-calculated
4. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/2920/schedule/1/part/1/chapter/3
5. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/2920/regulation/11