Ian Brewerton Architecture

Planning

If you need planning permission a fee will be payable to the Local Authority. These fees are set by the government. The Local Authority will not look at the application until the correct fee has been paid.

There are separate fees for agricultural buildings, display advertisements and some other categories of work.

There is no fee for

• improvements for disabled persons access to public buildings
• improvements to a disabled person's home
• Listed Building Consent (but if Planning Permission - which is separate - is also needed the fee above will be charged)
• work to trees covered by Tree Preservation Orders

.. and a number of other less common situations.

VAT is not charged on Planning Fees

Building Regulations

The fees charged by Local Authorities for Building Regulations are set by each Local Authority, although adjoining Authorities may agree fees between themselves for a wider area. They are revised more often than Planning Fees. Because of these factors, details should always be checked with the Local Authority in whose area the work is situated. VAT is charged on Building Regulations Fees.

For some domestic work a flat rate fee is charged; this includes garages, carports, and extensions. For other projects the fee is dependent on the value of the building work (excluding VAT).

Except on very small projects (including some domestic alterations) the fee is paid in two instalments: the "Plan Fee" must be submitted with the application; the "Inspection Fee" is invoiced after the first site inspection by the Building Inspector.

Professional Fees

There is no link between the Statutory Fees and the fee paid to your Architect ...
... but I don't see that the Architect should be paid less to produce the design than the Local Authority charges to check it ...

revised 9 May 2008