Charging for Planning Services
In line with Government advice in relation to the need to recover a greater proportion of the costs of Planning services, the Authority has decided to levy a charge for the following: providing written pre-application planning advice on larger development schemes; the drafting and processing of Section 106 Planning Agreements (and checking of Unilateral Undertakings); and responding in writing to ‘do I need planning permission enquiries’. This decision was taken in the light of a 35% reduction in real terms of the Authority’s grant funding. The scheme will be reviewed after a period of operation.
The charging was agreed at the 20th October 2011 Special Authority Meeting of the National Park, see link below to see officer report. The subsequent minutes of the decision will be available in March 2012..
http://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/special-authority-meeting-agenda/
Details of Charges
Charges will be applicable for a package of ‘pre-application advice’ consisting of meetings, site visits and research, culminating in written advice on the proposal. This will apply to the following categories of development only:
- Proposals for three or more holiday cottages or log cabins
- Proposals for new campsites or caravan sites or significant re-organisation to existing camping/caravan sites
- Proposals for larger farm buildings (465m2 or more)
- Mineral extraction proposals.
- Proposals for new commercial floor space ( new build or conversion) over 200m2
- Proposals to create two or more dwellings (other than affordable housing schemes)
When a request is received for written (including email) pre-application advice the Authority’s Development Management administration staff will advise of the chargeable nature of the advice and request payment. When payment is received Planning Officers will carry out the necessary research, site visit if necessary and will provide written confirmation of the advice.
The fee will be a flat rate fee of £250 for non major projects, operational from 16th January 2012.
The fee for major projects (as defined in Government Planning Statistics Returns) will be £250 from the outset and thereafter charged monthly at £50 per hour or part thereof measured in 15 minute intervals, operational from 16th January 2012.
The fee for drafting and processing a Section 106 Agreement will be a flat rate of £500, unless the S106 is protracted, operational from 1st November 2011.
The fee for protracted S106 Agreements will be £500 plus an hourly rate of £50 or part thereof measured in 15 minute intervals, operational from 1st November 2011.
The fee for checking an applicant drafted Section 106 Unilateral Undertaking or for work associated with modifying or revoking a S106 Agreement will be charged at an hourly rate of £50 or part thereof measured in 15 minute intervals, operational from 1st November 2011.
The fee for providing a written reply to a ‘Do I Need Planning Permission’ enquiry will be £10, operational from 1st November 2011.
Please note that pre-application planning advice is given in good faith and represents an informal officer view, a formal determination can only be made on submission of a planning application. The definition of major development can be found on the Department for Communities and Local Government Website, in brief it relates to housing schemes of 10 or more houses, for 1000m2 or more of commercial floorspace or for development sites of one hectare or more.
Any queries, please contact Mark Hill, Head of Development Management.
