Extension of planning fees

Council bring in new charges for pre- application process

S outh Ay r s h i r e residents who want to make changes to their homes are to be hit with extra planning fees.

The local authority is now charging architects for preapplications, when they send in their initial ideas for a proposed change.

And one architect who spoke to the Post fears that this could put people off making home improvements with the early extra fee now being added.

The architect, who asked not to be named, said: “In the past with the councils, if you had a pre- application, it was free. You filled out a form and sent in the plan to see if it was worth putting in a planning application. After that, you could make a decision on whether you wanted to leave it or change track, so you could tweak your design so it’s in accordance with council policies.

“Now, things have changed and you’ve got to commit yourself to it.

“With South Ayrshire Council, it’s now the same as the way planning works south of the border, but they have set their own fee structure.

“I can understand that pre- applications take time away from lodged planning applications, but this will dampen spirit for development in the area.

“They’ve charging £ 50 for an e- mail response and £ 100 for a meeting - this is fine if you get a decent productive meeting out of it, but it depends on who you get as a planner.

“It doesn’t bode well for a relaxed working relationship and it’s harder for us to justify this additional cost to clients.

“I could understand it if someone was looking to put on a behemoth of an extension and you wanted to consult with the planning department, so then you’d put a pre- app in.

“But if you have to go back to your client and tell then there’s going to be this extra fee before you even start, they mights just say, ‘ No thanks, let’s leave it.

“I can see that happening with some of the smaller applications, sadly.”

The local authority said that the decision to charge came as part of the council’s bid to boost its income, with its national funding being reduced.

Ji l l C ronin, South Ayrshire Council’s head of enterprise, development and leisure said: “South Ayrshire councillors agreed to a significant three- year programme of savings in June 2015.

“This included an action to increase planning and building warrant fee income by £ 150,000, to reflect increases in the number of applications being received per year.

“On April 4, 2016, two categories were introduced for those seeking preapplication advice; with basic guidance free, while more detailed advice now carries a fee.”