Planning Application Cost & Fees 2026
A planning application has two costs: the council fee (fixed by government) and the professional fee for preparing the drawings and managing the application. This guide breaks down both.
Cost breakdown
Council fees (2026)
Householder planning application: £258. Certificate of Lawfulness: £129 (half the planning fee). Pre-application advice: varies by council (£50–£250). These are paid directly to the council and are non-refundable, even if the application is refused.
Professional fees
Someone needs to prepare the drawings, write the design and access statement, and manage the application. Options: traditional architect (£2,000–£5,000), architectural technologist (£1,000–£3,000), PlanBuildCo (£2,200 fixed for full planning, £1,500 for Certificate of Lawfulness).
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Householder planning application fee | £258 |
| Certificate of Lawfulness fee | £129 |
| Pre-application advice (council) | £50–£250 |
| Professional fees (PlanBuildCo) | £1,500–£2,200 |
| Professional fees (architect) | £2,000–£5,000 |
| Total (PlanBuildCo route) | £1,629–£2,458 |
| Total (architect route) | £2,258–£5,258 |
Prices based on Dorset rates, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Local cost guides
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