Guidance

Nationally significant infrastructure projects: application fees charges from 1 April 2023/24

Updated 18 March 2024

Applies to England and Wales

Applicants are charged for:

  • applications for authorisation under sections 52 and 53 of the Planning Act 2008, obtaining information about interests in land and rights of entry
  • venue costs, where the Applicant does not provide a venue for a hearing
  • a fee to accompany the application (the ‘Acceptance fee’)
  • a Pre-examination fee following the appointment of the Inspector(s) initially chosen to examine the application
  • an initial payment in respect of the handling of an application (payable at the beginning of the Examination stage, following the Preliminary Meeting)
  • a final payment in respect of the handling of an application (payable on completion of the Examination stage)

1. Fee Charges from 1 April 2023

The table below shows the fees payable from 1 April 2023 for existing and new applications. The Infrastructure Planning (Fees) Regulations 2010 and subsequent amendments can be viewed at legislation.gov.uk

Fee in respect of applications for authorisation under sections 52 and 53
A request for authorisation under section 52(2) (information about interests in land). £1,835
A request for authorisation under section 53(1) (rights of entry). £1,835
Fee to accompany application
The Planning Inspectorate must charge the Applicant a fee in respect of the decision by the Secretary of State under section 55 (Acceptance of applications) whether or not to accept the application. The fee must accompany the application. £8,244
Pre-examination fee
Following a decision under section 61 (Initial choice of Panel or single Inspector) the Planning Inspectorate must notify the Applicant in writing of the Pre-examination fee. The Pre-examination fee is:-  
Single Inspector £23,863
Panel of two Inspectors £39,464
Panel of three Inspectors £55,065
Panel of more than three Inspectors £78,926
*Initial payment in respect of the handling of an application
Where an examination is handled by a single Inspector £1,129 per estimated relevant day
Where an examination is handled by a panel of two Inspectors £1,795 per estimated relevant day
Where an examination is handled by a panel of three Inspectors £2,460 per estimated relevant day
Where an examination is handled by a panel of more than three Inspectors £3,745 per estimated relevant day
Final payment in respect of the handling of an application
Following notification of the completion of the Examination stage under section 99. The final payment is dependent on the number of days actually required for the examination:-  
Where a single Inspector has examined the application £2,258 per relevant day*
Where a panel of two Inspectors has examined the application £3,590 per relevant day*
Where a panel of three Inspectors has examined the application - £4,919 per relevant day*
Where a panel of more than three Inspectors has examined the application - £7,490 per relevant day*

*Less the initial payment