The Government defines its 'localism' agenda as handing powers back from central government to locally-elected bodies. But anyone who submits a planning application from next April will wish the Government hadn't bothered.
Last week the Department for Communities and Local Government published proposals to give planning authorities the right to charge applicants the full administrative costs of submitting a planning application.
Lucky homeowners such as Nigella Lawson - who is already converting a former gasworks into a luxury London home - will miss paying these extra charges. But for those wanting to convert a property, build an extension, or even just prune a protected tree from next spring, it could mean paying hundreds in extra fees.
At present, fees which authorities can charge for submitting an application are laid down by Ministers under powers within the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
These have been increased in recent years. If you want to improve or enlarge a single dwelling house, for example, you must pay £150.
But the Government claims that authorities are still not recovering the full costs of handling applications - which include holding meetings, arranging site visits, consulting neighbours and other local bodies, and handling objections.
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It cites a report by consulting engineers Arup in 2009 which found the average cost of handling an application was £619, and the average fee charged to applicants was £563.
As a result, claims Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark, those who submit applications can expect to see fees rise by around ten per cent.
But the Local Government Association, which represents councils and which has been lobbying hard for the change, cites two very different figures.
It says that it costs councils an average of £896 to handle a planning application, but that they only receive an average of £370 in fees per application. This suggests that councils will seek to more than double the existing fees.
Hundreds in extra fees: Lucky homeowners, like Nigella , who has already started work on her home, will miss paying these new charges
Under the proposals, authorities would not be allowed to profit from processing planning applications. Yet they would have no incentive, as they do at present, to keep administration costs as low as possible.
There would be little to stop councillors piling into cars to inspect every application - followed by a pub lunch - knowing they could pass on the full costs to the applicant.
There are several nasties buried deep within the consultation document- to which everyone has the right to respond before January 7.
It suggests councils be granted the right to charge extra fees for retrospective planning applications - with the result that councils could set up teams of enforcement officers to go on fishing expeditions for breaches, all funded by what would effectively constitute fines for transgressors.
The Government says in its consultation document that it is minded not to change the current arrangements for applications for listed buildings consent, works in conservation areas and for works to trees subject to Tree Preservation Orders - which are currently free.
Yet it has nevertheless included the prospect of levying charges in the consultation. That could mean homeowners paying several hundred pounds just for permission to trim a branch.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/property/article-1331959/Councils-set-charge-like-grant-planning-permission--smallest-job.html#ixzz16BpHrJHR
