How much do the council charge to assess planning applications for agricultural buildings?

The chances are your agricultural building planning application will be one of three types.

• Prior Notification. This type of application covers permitted development and is a streamlined application process where you are basically saying to the council 'we believe we can undertake this work without planning consent can you confirm this is the case before we make a start?'

• Outline Planning. This type of application is where you agree the nature of the proposals in principal such as what the building will be used for, its general location on site, the amount of development proposed and how the building will be accessed. Its important to remember you cant build anything with outline planning approval, before you start works on site you will also need to submit a further application called 'reserved matters' which includes detailed information and drawings similar to full planning.

• Full Planning (also known as Detailed Planning Approval) This type of application will include a full set of detailed plans as well as various supporting surveys and reports. The level of information required depends on what the proposals are for and the site itself. Supporting information can include things like ecology surveys, drainage strategies, landscape schemes or even archaeology reports.

The local authority fees for each type of planning application are different and reflect the level of detail submitted and the time it takes the planning officer and their consultees to assess all of the submission drawings and documents.

At the time of writing (March 2024) planning application fees for each type of application are as follows.

• Prior Approval for Agricultural Buildings and Operations £120
  

• Outline Planning Application fees are based on site area and are as follows.
  

  • Less than 0.5 hectares £578 for each 0.1 hectare (or part thereof)
    

  • Between 1 hectare and 2.5 hectares £624 for each 0.1 hectare (or part thereof)
    

  • More than 2.5 hectares £15,433 + £186 for each additional 0.1 hectare (or part thereof) in excess of 2.5 hectares Maximum fee of £202,500
    

• Full Planning Application fees for agricultural buildings are based on the internal floor area of the new building and are as follows.
  

  • Not more than 465 square metres. £120
    

  • More than 540 square metres but less than 1,000 square metres. £578 for first 540 square metres + £578 for each additional 75 square metres in excess of 540 square metres.
    

  • Between 1,000 square metres and 4,215 square metres. £624 for first 1,000 square metres + £624 for each additional 75 square metres in excess of 1,000 square metres.
    

  • More than 4,215 square metres. £30,860 + £186 for each additional 75 square metres (or part thereof) in excess of 4,215 square metres Maximum fee of £405,000.

In addition to the above costs the council will also charge you an admin fee of £64 at the time the application is lodged.

These fees are specific to agricultural buildings, there are separate fee scales for other types of agricultural development including glasshouses for example.

As well as the council fees there will obviously be costs involved in preparing the applications. Professional fees vary depending on the complexity of the scheme and the type of application needed with costs associated with full planning being the most expensive due to the level of detail required.

If you are thinking about constructing an agricultural building on your farm and need advice on the type of planning application required and the fees involved get in touch for free advice and a no obligation fee proposal.

We can offer a basic agricultural building plans only service or we can over a comprehensive agricultural planning application service which includes all plans, supporting statements, surveys and reports depending on what you need.

Whatever your agricultural development entails we can help you obtain planning approval for your agricultural buildings.