303Fees for planning applications etc.

1

The appropriate authority may by regulations make provision for the payment of a fee or charge to a local planning authority in respect of—

a

the performance by the local planning authority of any function they have;

b

anything done by them which is calculated to facilitate or is conducive or incidental to the performance of any such function.

2

The appropriate authority may by regulations make provision for the payment of a fee to the appropriate authority or the local planning authority (or of fees to both the appropriate authority and the local planning authority) in respect of any application for planning permission deemed to be made under section 177(5).

3

The appropriate authority may by regulations make provision for the payment of a fee to the appropriate authority in respect of any application for planning permission which is deemed to be made to the appropriate authority under—

a

any provision of this Act other than section 177(5), or

b

any order or regulations made under this Act.

4

The appropriate authority may by regulations make provision for the payment of a fee to the appropriate authority in respect of an application for planning permission made under section 293A (urgent Crown development).

5

Regulations under this section may in particular—

a

make provision as to when a fee or charge payable under the regulations is to be paid;

b

make provision as to who is to pay a fee or charge payable under the regulations;

c

make provision as to how a fee or charge payable under the regulations is to be calculated (including who is to make the calculation);

d

prescribe circumstances in which a fee or charge payable under the regulations is to be remitted or refunded (wholly or in part);

e

prescribe circumstances in which no fee or charge is to be paid;

f

make provision as to the effect of paying or failing to pay a fee or charge in accordance with the regulations;

g

prescribe circumstances in which a fee or charge payable under the regulations to one local planning authority is to be transferred to another local planning authority.

6

Regulations under this section may—

a

contain incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitional and transitory provision and savings;

b

in the case of regulations made by virtue of subsection (5)(f) or paragraph (a) of this subsection, amend, repeal or revoke any provision made by or under this Act or by or under any other Act.

7

In this section “the appropriate authority” means—

a

the Secretary of State in relation to England;

b

the Welsh Ministers in relation to Wales.

8

No regulations shall be made under this section unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before and approved by resolution of—

a

each House of Parliament, in the case of regulations made by the Secretary of State;

b

the National Assembly for Wales, in the case of regulations made by the Welsh Ministers.

9

Section 333(3) does not apply in relation to regulations made under this section by the Welsh Ministers.

10

If a local planning authority calculate the amount of fees or charges in pursuance of provision made by regulations under subsection (1) the authority must secure that, taking one financial year with another, the income from the fees or charges does not exceed the cost of performing the function or doing the thing (as the case may be).

11

A financial year is the period of 12 months beginning with 1 April.