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Fees for planning applications

These notes are intended only as a guideline of the most common application types in this borough and are not comprehensive. A full copy of the relevant regulations may be obtained from The Office of Public Sector information.

Information about the fees for making applications for:

  • Householder planning permission
  • Applications for full or outline planning permission
  • Applications for the approval of reserved matters following an outline planning permission
  • Applications to vary or remove conditions on planning permissions
  • Deemed planning applications
  • Applications for prior approval under the General Permitted development Order
  • Certificates of lawful development
  • Consent to display advertisements

Fees regulations

The planning and other fees described are set by Central Government. The Council has no discretion over fees to be paid in any case.

Fee details are provided to give information in plain English on the fees required to be paid. It is issued without prejudice to the application of the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications etc.) Regulations 1989 as amended.

Calculation of fees - measurement of floor space

  • Measurements of the site area or floor space to which an application relates are always based on the external dimensions, whether or not there are external walls. It includes the floor space occupied by toilets, corridors and storage etc. Where floor space is to be divided by units of area for fee calculation purposes, residual fractions of a unit are chargeable as a complete unit.
  • You must always round- up where units of measurement are not exact multiples of the fee categories. i.e. The site area is defined as the area of land to which the application relates, fractions of 0.1 hectares are chargeable as a complete unit.
  • If the application is for a new building to replace a building, which is to be demolished, there is no discount for the size of the existing building. The fee would be based on the floor space of the proposed building.

Payment of fees

  • The fee due must be paid when the application is deposited.
  • No decision can be made on an application for which the correct fee has not been paid.
  • The council has NO discretion to vary fees.
  • Cheques and Postal Orders should be made payable to The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
  • There is no VAT on planning fees.
  • Payment can be made by all major debit cards and credit cards (except American Express or Diners cards) when submitting an application online. More information about submitting applications online.

Refund of fees

Fees can only be refunded if:

  • Paid in respect of a development for which permission or consent is not required and the local planning authority decline to determine the application.
  • More than the correct fee was paid
  • The application is rejected as invalidly made

No refund can be made where an application is withdrawn.

Special rules for some applications

There are special rules for calculating fees for:

  • Mixed use proposals;
  • Deemed applications connected with enforcement appeals

If your application falls within any of these categories, please phone for advice.