Planning Advisory Service (PAS) is embarking on the start of one of its most significant pieces of work – supporting the government’s plans for the localisation of planning fees and full cost recovery. This web page provides information and links to the work PAS is doing and how local planning authorities can take part and collaborate with us. July 2026.
** On 16th July 2026 the Government published its response to the: Fees for Planning Applications Consultation.
From a PAS perspective, the government's response provides much greater certainty that LPAs should now begin preparing the evidence, costing methodologies and governance arrangements needed for local fee setting - PAS can begin helping you with this now in anticipation of the regulations later this year. Out top 10 highlights of the consultation response are here.
Fee Setting & Cost Recovery Masterclasses
The Planning and Infrastructure Act introduces new powers for local planning authorities to set their own planning application fees and achieve full cost recovery on other work including Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). Doing this right means understanding the rules, how to achieve cost recovery, building robust hourly rates, and forecasting income with confidence.
PAS is offering on-site masterclasses during late January and through February 2026 to help your team design and test a localised fee and full cost recovery model. In just half a day, we’ll guide you through:
- Understanding the rules
- Capturing direct and indirect costs
- Setting hourly rates
- Designing time-recording pilots
- Building indicative fees and income forecasts
- Governance and sign-off steps
If your authority is considering moving away from the national fee schedule, or has an NSIP this is your chance to get practical, hands-on support.
Interested? Email [email protected] with “Fee Setting Masterclass” in the subject line, and we’ll be in touch to discuss full details and dates.
Join our Fee Setting Network
- Exploring cost recovery and planning service funding
- Developing localised fee models
- Sharing insights, tools, and good practice