A proposal from the Scottish government to raise planning application fees has been challenged by housebuilders
The Scottish government’s consultation to increase planning application fees has been challenged by industry body Homes for Scotland.
Holyrood is currently in the process of consulting on plans to raise fees to £125,000, but Homes for Scotland said given the poor performance of the planning system increasing this figure was not the best option.
Slow planning system
Responding to the official consultation, director of planning at Homes for Scotland Tammy Adams said: “We do not object to the principle of reviewing and increasing fees but in recent months the average decision time for major housing applications has been 48.5 weeks – more than three times the statutory period of 16 weeks.
“This is disastrously slow and does not include the likes of negotiating Section 75 Agreements or road construction consents.
“The slowness of Scotland’s planning system works against the common goal of all those who want to increase the delivery of much-needed new homes. Indeed, our members tell us it has never been harder to get homes out of the ground.
“As no evidence has been provided to suggest the planning fee is the root cause of poor performance, or that the increase now proposed will guarantee a material improvement to applicants, we cannot support the measures currently being put forward.
“Homes for Scotland is ready and willing to engage positively with the Scottish Government and other stakeholders on how a stronger and more supportable package of measures can be put together to improve planning performance and justify a review of planning fees. We will therefore be requesting a meeting with officials and Ministers as soon as this consultation closes.”
The Scottish Property Federation (SPF) said it supports an increase in planning application fees, providing the system becomes more streamlined and effective.
