Planning advice charges in force

The move comes after government cuts meant a reduction of more than 30 per cent in the authority’s budget between 2011 and 2015. The new charges include: between £100 and £1,000 for advice on open-market housing applications, depending on the number of homes; £45 per hour for advice on large developments, such as hotels, industrial or commercial schemes and £100 for most agricultural developments.

The full schedule is available on the authority’s website at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/planning/advice.

Director of planning John Scott said: “It makes sense for developers to pay for specialist advice that is tailored to their particular scheme and on which they can rely to help them achieve an application that is more likely to be approved.”

Pre-application advice to householders for changes to domestic properties will continue to be free.

Businesses now also have the option of entering a Planning Performance Agreement with the authority. Payments will be set on a case-by-case basis.