Help: Fee calculator




Type of application or permission

 

You are able to calculate fees for the following applications.

 

Application for planning permission

This applies to most types of planning permission - in terms of this fee calculator, this including both Planning Permission and Householder Applications.

Planning permission is needed if you want to carry out a development. The definition of development includes carrying out:

  • Any building, mining, engineering, or other related operations, in, on, over or under land; or
  • Making any significant change in the use of any buildings or land.

 

Planning permission in principle

To find out if a development is generally acceptable you can apply for planning permission in principle. You can apply for this for most things. However, for a change of use, for development in conservation areas or for works affecting listed buildings you should apply for full planning permission.

If planning permission in principle is granted, you will only need to pay a fee for applications where approval is needed as a result of there being a condition on that planning permission in principle (e.g. approval of matters shown in the conditions). Approval of matters shown in the conditions are:

  • the siting of the buildings authorised by the planning permission in principle;
  • their design;
  • their external appearance;
  • the means of access to them; and
  • the landscaping of the site.

You will not have to pay a fee for an application for an approval which does not relate to one or more of these matters. Nor will there be a fee for an application for an approval which is needed as a result of any condition attached to a planning permission, even if the condition relates to one of the matters otherwise defined as a reserved matter.

 

Certificate of lawfulness for an existing use or development

A certificate of lawfulness is essentially a remedy for when building work has taken place some time in the past or where for a number of years a development or use has continued without keeping to a planning condition. It is a procedure for the planning authority to make a formal decision that the development or use may continue without enforcement action being taken.

You should apply for a certificate of lawfulness if you want to find out whether an existing use of land, or some development or activity which has broken a planning condition, is lawful.

There are two situations when this may happen.

  • Planning enforcement action is taken by the planning authority and you believe you should not have any action taken against you because the time limit for taking enforcement action has passed; or.
  • You discover, in the course of selling the land or property, that planning permission was never received and you need to show a prospective buyer that no enforcement action can be taken by the planning authority.

An application for a certificate is sometimes appropriate in cases involving increased use or where the precise nature of the existing use is difficult to describe such as:

  • secondary uses;
  • mixed uses;
  • increased use; or
  • sub-division of the planning unit.

 

Certificate of lawfulness for a proposed use or development

A certificate of lawfulness is essentially a way of getting a decision from the planning authority that a proposed use or work does not need planning permission. You should apply for a certificate of lawfulness if you want proof that a proposed use of land, or some operational development, is lawful and will not run the risk of future enforcement action by the planning authority.

There are normally three circumstances where this would arise.

  • If there is an expected change in planning law and you want to find out the legality of a proposal with the planning authority;
  • If a property is empty and you want confirmation that a proposed use is not a material change of use; or
  • If the history of planning permission on site is unclear and the best remedy is a slightly different use or minor external or internal alterations which you consider to be legal.

It might be appropriate to apply for this certificate in cases involving proposed increased use or where the precise nature of the existing use is difficult to describe because there is more than one use.

 

Prior Notification or Approval

Unlike planning permission and other permissions, prior notificiation is a procedure where a developer must tell the planning authority about the proposals before they can enforce any permitted development rights. 

This can include applications for:

  • Digital Communications (under class 67);
  • Peatland Restoration (under class 20A);
  • Conversion of Existing Agricultural/Forestry Buildings to Residential or Commercial Use (under class 18B, 18C, 22A, or 22B);
  • Finfish and Shellfish Farming; and
  • Other applications.

 

Permission to display an advertisement

Certain types of advertisement do not need permission as they have ‘deemed consent’, which means automatic permission, under the regulations. This allows you to display certain types of advertisement without first having to make an application to the local planning authority. However, some advertisements will require permission.You can check this by consulting the regulations or by getting advice from the planning authority.

An advertisement is defined as any word, letter, model, sign, placard, board, notice, awning, blind, device or representation, whether lit or not, and used only or partly for the purposes of advertisement, announcement or direction.

 

Approval of matters specified in conditions

If you have been granted planning permission in principle, you will have to pay a fee only if your application for approval relates to approving matters which are set out in the conditions. These are:

  • the siting of the buildings authorised by the planning permission in principle;
  • their design;
  • their external appearance;
  • the means of access to them; and
  • the landscaping of the site.

You will not have to pay a fee for an application for an approval which does not relate to one or more of these matters. Nor will there be a fee for an application for an approval which you need under any condition attached to a planning permission, even if the condition relates to one of the matters otherwise defined as a reserved matter.

 

Change of use or continuation of use buildings or land

In most instances, changes of use of buildings or land will involve applying for planning permission. You will likely need to pay a fee for these applications.

 

Further applications

You may have to pay a fee if you are making a further application such as renew planning permission, modifying an existing permission, or applying for a variation or removal of a planning condition. Select this option if any of these apply.

 

Making an application as a result of an enforcement notice appeal

You may have to pay a fee in thse circumstances. The fee is double that that applies for the appropriate category (e.g. planning permission, further application, etc.). You will need to pay half to the Scottish Ministers, enclosed with the appeal, and half to the planning authority. Please check with either you planning authority or the Scottish Ministers whether you have to pay a fee for this application.

 

Applications with more than one of these categories

Applications may often involve development which falls into more than one category. For instance the application may relate to detailed permission for:

  • homes and other buildings;
  • buildings together with other work;
  • change of use together with work;
  • more than one change of use; or
  • planning permission in principle for homes and other buildings.

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