DEVELOPERS will have to pay for Kirklees Council advice – even before submitting a planning application.
Builders will have to fork out nearly £1,000 to speak to an officer.
The council currently offers free advice to developers who are interested in seeking planning permission.
However, the council’s Labour Cabinet decided this week to introduce charges for the service.
From June, developers interested in building 200 or more homes will have to pay £800 plus £160 VAT to speak to Kirklees officers.
Builders looking to construct between 10 and 200 homes will have to fork out £500 plus £100 VAT.
Clr Peter McBride, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “This is a vital service, in that it leads to a more efficient planning process, but it is also valuable to the developers at a cost to the council in terms of officer time.
“Our plan is to introduce the charge for pre-application advice only on those applications where officer time is most intensive.
“So major applications will attract the charge, but advice for householders or minor schemes will remain unaffected, with a review after 12 months.
“The charges are in line with other similar size councils where this kind of scheme has already been shown to work well.”
The Cabinet also agreed that minor alterations to plans will no longer require a new application.
