Planning Consultant Fees in the UK

Planning consultants are professionals who are experts in applying for and obtaining planning permission. They can play an important role in helping you get your planning application approved. As you would naturally expect, however; they don’t provide their services free. So, how much does it cost to hire professional planning consultants in the UK? Due to successive changes in planning rules, the demand for planning consultants is quite high in some areas.

When Do I Need a Planning Consultant?

There are several situations in which a need for a skilled planning consultant may arise. Planning consultants have up-to-date knowledge of the ever-changing planning policies in local areas, which means your choice of architect or local planning officer could determine the chances of the success of your project.

At the beginning of the project, you should use a planning consultant when you want to weigh a potential site for the building. Investing a few hundred pounds to obtain a feasibility study before purchasing any plot, is a smart investment. It’s vitally important to have experienced planning consultants among your team. They can advise you on whether buying a plot is worth it or not.

The costs of a feasibility study from seeming expensive consultants may end up putting you off from continuing with the project. However, the knowledge and guidance that your planning consultant will bring onboard can help you spot better opportunities elsewhere. In some cases, a site may suit several homes, but its location may be less lucrative.

It normally takes planners a few days to complete any feasibility study. It can then offer you reliable information on the prospects of the site. The question is what charges are involved? Many UK planning consultants will charge about £500-£1,000 to undertake a feasibility study. However, for small projects, the fees may be as low as £100-£300. If you are looking for professional architects and planning consultants in Essex and London, check out Humphreys & Sons’ official source.

How much will planning consultants’ fees be?

In the UK, planning consultants’ charges vary over a wide scale according to several factors. Some planning consultants and architects charge on an hourly basis and some require a lump sum payment. The fees also vary in accordance with the skills and experience of the consultant. That said, you can expect to pay up to £2,500 for a planning consultant’s service. In the event that an appeal is necessary with regard to your planning application, you may end up paying a similar amount.

Higher planning fees are associated with more complex architectural projects since consultants will have to negotiate with the planning authorities for quite a long time. Some consultants may agree to a ceiling figure with you based on the amount of work involved in the project.

Pre-purchase Feasibility Studies may also cost you around £1,000. However, some consultants will offer you a desktop audit for a lower amount. You can easily find a planning consultant near you if you visit the RTPI’s website. Some local architects and developers may also have some experience with planning permissions. So, get them on board when necessary.