Planning Application Cost & Fees 2026 in Poole
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. Here is what Poole homeowners should expect to pay.
Local cost range — Poole
£1,758–£5,258
What affects costs in Poole
BCP Council handles Poole planning applications. The £258 council fee is standard nationally. BCP approves approximately 89% of householder applications.
Council fee — BCP Council
The planning application fee for Poole is £258, payable to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. This is a fixed national fee and is non-refundable.
Cost estimator
Rates for Poole
6m × 4m = 24m²
Estimated cost in Poole
Excl. VAT (£10373 – £16376)
Local insight: Poole's mix of Sandbanks premium properties and Parkstone family homes means costs vary significantly. Waterfront properties command premium build rates due to access constraints and material specifications.
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 |
National guide figures. Local rates in Poole: £1,758–£5,258.
Frequently asked questions
National guide
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