Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Evans unveiled a package of Welsh Government planning reforms at the Wales Planning Conference 2025, including a decision to increase planning application fees following a recent public consultation.
The announcement was made during her keynote address at the event, hosted by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Cymru.
Mark Hand, Director of RTPI Cymru, said: “This desperately needed boost to Local Planning Authorities provides a timely opportunity for Heads of Planning to invest the additional income in properly resourced planning teams after over a decade of cuts.
“Our engagement found that our members from the private sector wholeheartedly supported the fee increases, provided the additional income is reinvested to improve service delivery. Now is the time for strong leadership within LPAs to reinvest and deliver.
“Resurrected Annual Performance Reports will highlight additional fee income and provide an opportunity to record how it was reinvested and how service delivery improved.
“This sits alongside the recent £9m investment in resourcing National Resources Wales, Planning and Environment Decisions Wales and the Welsh Government's own planning division, all of whom have been depleted over the years.”
RTPI Cymru will provide further details in its upcoming research report.
