Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing local council planning fees so that they cover the costs of local planning services.

In our recent consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, we sought views on changes to planning application fees to cover the costs of local planning services. The consultation closed on the 24 September and officials in my department are currently analysing responses with a view to publishing a government response before the end of the year.