Whether you're thinking about extending your home, converting your loft, remodelling your property or building a new house, understanding the planning process – and the associated costs – is an important part of getting your project underway.

From 8 December 2026, planning application fees in England are increasing, with some application types seeing more significant rises than others.

The changes are part of the government's wider efforts to improve the planning system and ensure local authorities have more resources to process applications.

So, what does this mean if you're planning a residential project?

How much are planning application fees increasing?

The new fees vary depending on the type of application. Here are some of the changes most relevant to our residential clients:

For a typical house extension requiring planning permission, the fee will increase by £27, from £548 to £575.

For anyone planning a new home, the increase is more noticeable, with the fee for a single new dwelling rising by £142 to £752.

It's also worth remembering that the initial application isn't always the only planning fee involved. Further applications may be needed to discharge planning conditions or make changes to an approved scheme.

What about permitted development?

Not every home improvement project requires a full planning application. Some extensions, loft conversions and alterations can be carried out under Permitted Development Rights, provided they meet certain criteria.

However, some permitted development projects still require prior approval from the local authority, and certain applications that were previously free will now attract a fee.

It's also worth noting that if you're carrying out work under Permitted Development Rights, you can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate to obtain formal confirmation that your proposals are lawful. This can provide valuable reassurance, particularly when selling your property in the future.

The fee for a certificate covering a proposed development is also increasing, from £274 to £287.50 for a typical householder extension.

Understanding which planning route applies to your project, and whether formal confirmation is advisable, is therefore an important part of the initial design process.

Will higher fees mean a better planning service?

For anyone who has recently been through the planning process, the bigger question is whether these increased fees will actually lead to a better and faster service from local authorities.

Planning departments across England have been struggling with staff shortages, recruitment difficulties and increasing workloads for some time. The Home Builders Federation has highlighted that around 90% of planning departments are under-resourced, with an estimated 2,660 additional planning officers needed.

While the additional fee income is intended to help address these pressures, there is understandable concern that higher fees alone won't resolve the problem.

Ultimately, we hope that the increased investment translates into better-resourced planning teams, more consistent advice and, importantly, more timely decisions. After all, paying more for a planning application should bring some tangible improvement to the service.

When do the new fees come into effect?

The revised fees take effect on Tuesday 8 December 2026.

If you're hoping to submit a planning application under the existing fee structure, it must be submitted, with payment received and cleared, by 5pm on Monday 7 December 2026.

Applications submitted after this deadline will be subject to the new fees.

If you're already considering a project, it's worth being aware of the changes when planning your budget. However, we wouldn't recommend rushing the design or submission process simply to avoid a relatively small increase. A carefully considered, well-prepared planning application is far more important.

Planning a project?

Although the increase for a typical house extension is relatively modest, it's another cost worth factoring into your overall project budget.

At Design Haus Architecture, we believe that a successful project starts with understanding the potential of your property and taking the time to develop the right design for you. From initial ideas and exploring planning possibilities through to detailed design, we guide our clients through each stage of the process.

Working across Nottingham and the surrounding areas, we create thoughtful, individual homes that respond to the way our clients want to live.

Whether you're considering a modest extension, a complete home transformation or a bespoke new-build property, we'd love to hear about your plans.

Have a project in mind? Get in touch with us to discuss your ideas.