Planning fees

Charges for planning applications and newspaper advertisement of certain planning applications.

1. Scale of fees

In addition to the online fee calculator, details of the latest amendments to the fee structure can be found at The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025.

On 9 June 2025, fees were introduced for appeals to Scottish Ministers and to the council's local review body.

Local reviews can be submitted using the ePlanning website.

Site area and floor space

Wherever a fee is based on the site area, the site area is defined as the area to which the application relates; that is to say, the land being developed including any which changes its use as part of the development.

This will normally be shown edged in red on the plan accompanying the application, while other land in the same ownership but not being developed is normally identified separately.

Wherever a fee is based on floor space, the floor space is taken to be the gross floor space (all storeys) to be created by the development shown in the application. For fee purposes this measurement is an external measurement, and includes the thickness of external and internal walls.

Floor space does not include other areas inside a building which are not readily usable by humans or animals, for example: lift shafts, tanks, loft spaces.

Where buildings featuring or comprising canopies are concerned, there can be no simple rule as to whether floor space is being created by the erection of the canopy, but the absence of external walls is not the determining factor.

Where floor space or site area (as the case may be) is not an exact multiple of the unit of measurement provided by the fees scale, the amount remaining is taken to be a whole unit for fees purposes.

The fee is always determined on the basis of the application as made.

Even if permission is granted for a development of a different size, or if the application is amended by agreement in the course of discussion with the applicant, no adjustment is made to the fee payable.

Staff will be pleased to advise on matters arising from these Regulations.

2. Newspaper advertisements

To accord with statutory publicity requirements, the council is required to publish the following categories of application in a local newspaper.

(a) Where there are no premises on neighbouring land to which a neighbour notification letter can be sent

(b) Where the application is for a type of development listed in Schedule 3 of the Development Management Procedure (Scotland) Regulations 2013 (for example, hot food shop, licensed premises)

(c) Where the application is for listed building consent

(d) Where the application is judged to affect the setting of a listed building or affect the character of a conservation area

The above list represents the categories the council deals with on a regular basis but is not exhaustive. The cost of placing a notice under category (a) and (b) requires to be paid for by the applicant when the application is made. The cost of notices under category (c) and (d) will be met by the council. Applicants or their appointed agent will be advised when a notice is required.

Fee

Notices are placed in a local newspaper for each areas as far as possible. These are listed below, along with the cost (including VAT):

• Largs and Millport Weekly News - £203
• Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald - £203
• Irvine Herald - £203
• The Arran Banner - £92

Certain applications will also require to be published in the Edinburgh Gazette, the cost of which will be met by the council.

Where a planning application is subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) under The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017, a notice requires to be published in a local newspaper and the Edinburgh Gazette. In such cases, a further payment will be required.