Planning Application Fees in London: What You Pay and What Is Covered

Planning application fees in England are set by the government and revised periodically. The fees below reflect the schedule in force from December 2023 (when significant fee increases were introduced). Always confirm current fees with the relevant London borough before submission — or check Planning Portal, which publishes the current fee schedule.

**Householder application (extensions, loft conversions, domestic outbuildings — on a single dwelling):** Flat rate: **£258** per application (from December 2023, increased from £206).

This fee covers most standard residential alterations to a single dwelling house — rear extensions, side extensions, loft conversions, dormer windows, garage conversions, car ports, and similar works.

**Prior Approval application (larger home extension scheme — Class A or AA):** Flat rate: **£120** per application.

Prior Approval is used where a rear extension exceeds the standard permitted development limits (3m for terraced/semi, 4m for detached) but is within the larger home extension limits (6m for terraced/semi, 8m for detached). The fee is lower than a full householder application.

**Change of use application (e.g., house to flats conversion, C3 to C4 HMO, commercial to residential):** **£462** per application (for change of use applications involving dwellings).

**New dwelling:** **£578** per dwelling (for up to 5 dwellings; higher rates apply for 6+ dwellings).

**Listed Building Consent:** **Free** — there is no application fee for Listed Building Consent.

• **Lawful Development Certificate (LDC):**
• •LDC for a proposed use or operation (confirming works are lawful): **£258** (for a single dwellinghouse — half the equivalent planning application fee)
• •LDC for an existing use or operation (confirming existing works were lawful): **£258** (flat rate)

• **Pre-application advice:**
• Pre-application advice is a paid service offered by London boroughs — fees vary by borough, project size, and type. Typical fees:
• •Minor residential pre-application enquiry: **£150–£400**
• •Larger residential scheme pre-application: **£400–£1,500+**
• Pre-application fees are paid to the LPA and are not refunded if the subsequent application is refused.

The planning application fee covers the LPA's administrative cost of processing the application. It does not include:

**Professional fees for drawings and application preparation:** The cost of producing planning drawings — floor plans, elevations, site plans, Design and Access Statements, and other documents required for a complete application — is by far the largest element of the cost of obtaining planning permission for most homeowners.

• Typical architectural fees for planning application drawings (for a standard householder rear extension):
• •Standard residential, design-only service: **£1,200–£2,500** (drawings to planning stage only)
• •Full RIBA service including planning and technical design: **£4,000–£10,000+** (depending on project size and complexity)

**Heritage consultant or planning consultant fees:** For applications in conservation areas, for listed buildings, or where a planning consultant is needed to manage the application process, additional professional fees of **£1,000–£4,000+** may apply.

**Specialist reports:** Some planning applications require specialist reports — ecological surveys, arboricultural reports (tree surveys), daylight/sunlight assessments, transport or parking assessments. These are commissioned separately and can add **£500–£5,000+** per report depending on the type.

**The total cost of obtaining planning permission:** For a standard London rear extension householder application, the total cost (application fee + architect's drawings fee) is typically **£1,500–£4,000**. For a more complex scheme with specialist reports, heritage consultation, or listed building consent, the total can reach **£5,000–£15,000+**.

**Refusal and resubmission:** If a planning application is refused, resubmission of a revised scheme within 12 months (for certain application types) may be free or at a reduced fee — check the current fee schedule and the rules for the specific application type.