Planning application fees in Wales are due to increase from April 2009.

New legislation is expected, setting out the details as to how planning application fees will increase. The aim of the Welsh Assembly is to fund improvements to local authority planning services by increasing fees.

Fees have already been increased in England and homeowners have seen fees rise by around 10%. Further details are awaited from the Assembly, to allow the new fees to be rolled out.

Changes to Planning Appeals in England

The Department for Communities and Local Government and Ministry of Justice has published a package of secondary legislation which will come into force on 6 April 2009. The new provisions apply only to England. Taken together, they will change the planning appeal process by:

• Reducing the appeal period for all householder appeals from six months to 12 weeks.
• Introducing a fast track procedure for written representation householder appeals.
• Requiring statements of common ground in local inquiries to be submitted within six weeks after the starting date.
• Removing representations at the nine week stage in both hearings and local inquiries.

The new provisions aim make the system more efficient, with faster decision making.

If you have any planning issues that you wish to discuss, please contact Helen Van Willegen on 01639 640549 or email helen.vanwillegen@hutchinsonthomas.com