Planning application fees
The scale of fees for applications is set by the Scottish Government through The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) (Scotland) Regulations 2022. Planning Fees will increase from 12 December 2024 in line with The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024
From 1st April 2022 all planning and other applications validated from that date will incur these fees.
From 1st October 2022, where the application is for retrospective approval, any application for planning permission validated from that date will also incur a 25% surcharge in addition to the fee as calculated in line with the The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) (Scotland) Regulations 2022.
From 12 December 2024, planning application fees will increase in line with
The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024
A link to the fee regulations can be found below:
The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 (opens new window)
View thefee scale (PDF, 111 KB)(opens new window), which gives additional information on the fees payable.
The fee for an application, unless otherwise noted, is not refundable once the planning application has been submitted. Your fee can be reduced or waived, under the following circumstances:
- if the application is made by a community council, the fee will be reduced by 50%;
- no fee if the application is for works to improve access for a disabled person;
- no fee if the application is submitted within 12 months of the date of refusal for an application of the same description or character, if made by the same applicant; (only applies to one application following the original application); and
- no fee if the application is submitted within 12 months of the date of submission of an application of the same description or character, if made by the same applicant, which is withdrawn. (Only applies to one application following the original application)
If there is a requirement to advertise your application in the local newspaper, please note that you will have to pay an additional £80 to cover the cost and we will not register your application until the fee is paid.
Pre-Application Advice, Non-Material Variations and Certificates of Compliance with Conditions
The council offers a pre-application advice service, which you can use to find out if the development you're considering is likely to obtain planning permission. To find out more go to the Pre-Application Enquiry webpage. The fees for this service, set out below, are set by West Lothian Council. Please note that this service is not for finding out whether planning permission is required for your development; if you need information on this you can view the pages on this website that give information on permitted development. The Council also offers a non-material variation, which enables small changes which are not material to be made to a planning permission which has already been granted.
| Application/Service | Fee Payable | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pre-Application Advice | ||
| a. | Householder | £90, Additional £90 if the applicant requests a meeting or a site visit. |
| b. | Small Local Development (Up to 10 residential units or up to 999m2 class 4/5/6/ other / mixed space or Change of Use Proposal) | 50% of the cost of the planning application fee, subject to a maximum of £1200. Additional £120 if the applicant requests an unaccompanied site visit prior to advice letter being sent. Additional £300 if the applicant requests a face to face meeting or site visit. |
| c. | Medium Local Development (11 - 49 residential units or 1000m2 to 9999m2 class 4/5/6 space or 1000m2 to 4999m2 other / mixed space) | 50% of the cost of the planning application fee, subject to a maximum of £2400. Additional £120 if the applicant requests an unaccompanied site visit prior to advice letter being sent. Additional £300 if the applicant requests a face to face meeting or site visit. |
| d. | Major Development | 50% of the cost of the planning application fee, subject to a maximum of £3600. Additional £120 if the applicant requests an unaccompanied site visit prior to advice letter being sent. Additional £300 if the applicant requests a face to face meeting or site visit. |
| 2. Non Material Variation (NMV) | ||
| a. | Request for NMV | £200 per request. |
| 3. Compliance with Plans/Conditions | ||
| a. | All applications | £100 |
Application Fees
You can view the required fee for your development here (PDF, 111 KB)(opens new window)
