Planning News

Scottish Ministers have laid before the Scottish Parliament, and it in turn has passed, regulations which see an increase in planning fees from 12 December 2024. The increase made is to provide urgent support to planning authority resourcing. It is however recognised that planning fee increases are not the sole solution to improving the planning system and the service that is provided. The Scottish Government is taking forward at the same time a range of proposals which are intended to streamline processes and provide efficiencies which it considers have the potential to speed up decision making and increase capacity within authorities. You can follow the Scottish Government’s Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Division’s news and stories to track progress with these via various methods, including its website, blog and registering for news updates. Details of how to register for its news updates can be found on its website at Planning and architecture - gov.scot .

Meantime however the fee increase that is to take place from 12 December 2024 is in line with inflation for 2022 and 2023. The regulations at the same time extend discretionary charging powers to cover Processing Agreements and Masterplan Consent Areas, and adjust the fee for shellfish farming. An updated Planning Circular will be issued to accompany the new regulations’ introduction. The current ePlanning Fee Calculator is to be removed and a new one put in its place.