CLA says that planning hike is ‘excessive’

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) said today (Thursday, 5 July) that a proposed 15 per cent increase in planning fees will “damage the viability of the rural economy”.

CLA President Harry Cotterell said the “excessive” increase would discourage rural businesses from putting forward planning applications to improve the profitability of their countryside-based businesses.

He said: “The Government’s announcement of an additional 15 per cent of application fees will hit rural businesses of all types very hard, especially at this time of economic austerity.

“The long-term economic sustainability of this important part of the national economy would be badly affected by this draconian idea.”

He said that CLA members run a wide range of businesses including agricultural, tourism and commercial ventures – around 250 different types of rural business.

He said: “The quality of the countryside is vital to our members and frequently brings them into contact with the planning system. Most planning objectives for the countryside - economic, social and environmental - rely on landowners and managers for their success.

“The application fee is only part of the cost of obtaining planning permission and already too many viable projects to boost rural economic growth are lost due to high costs.”