Invalid service fees
It is vital that you ensure your application is correct (known as valid) before you submit it to us through the Planning Portal.
If your application is not valid, we will write to you and tell you why. You then have two options:
We can return your application as invalid
- You can choose to resubmit your planning application through the Planning Portal, using the information we have provided in your invalid letter to help you get it right.
- We will refund your full application fee through the Planning Portal - they may retain a percentage of the fee you have paid, so you may not get a full refund.
- If we do not hear from you within 21 days after sending your invalid letter, we we will make your application invalid and you will need to apply again.
Alternatively, you can pay an invalid service fee and we will help you to validate your application
- Instead of having your application returned to you, you can pay an invalid service fee within 21 days of receipt of your invalid letter.
- You will then be able to resubmit any missing or incorrect details without having to apply again.
- You will be able to contact our team for advice and guidance on how to submit the correct information.
Why we introduced invalid service fees
- We publish clear guidance on the information required for a valid application.
- Despite this, we were continuously finding over half of all planning applications submitted to us were invalid for various reasons.
- Rather than make these invalid straight away, we launched our discretionary invalid service to provide support and guidance to applicants.
- If you do not wish to pay an invalid service fee, you can choose to have your planning application and the full fee you have paid returned to you through the Planning Portal - they may retain a percentage of the fee you have paid, so you may not get a full refund.
Invalid service charge fees are as follows:
| Application type | Description | Invalid fee per attempt | Maximum attempts |
| Householder / Advertisement | Householder applications / Advertisement | £50 (plus vat) / £60 (inc. vat) | Three |
| Minor application | Up to 9 dwellings and up to 0.99 hectares or 999 square metres floor area. | £150 (plus vat) / £180 (inc. vat) | Three |
| Small major application | Between 10 and 199 dwellings and between 1.9 and 3.9 hectares or 1,000 and 9,999 square metres floor area. | £200 (plus vat) / £240 (inc. vat) | Three |
| Major application | 200+ dwellings and over four hectares or 10,000 square metres floor area. | £300 (plus vat) / £360 (inc. vat) | Three |
Useful links
The planning administration team will send you the payment link if your application is not valid, but if you lose the email, please choose from the links below: