From April 16th 2008 there will be an increase to the amount thats paid to the local council for permission to extend your property.

For a Planning Application it will increase from £135 to £150 (inc Vat)

And for a COL (certificate of Lawfulness) it will increase from £67.50 to £75.

I think this is outrageous, the councils are under so much pressure with the volume of applications that are being submitted that instead of focusing on a quicker turnaround for each application, they are trying to cash in on the demand of housing development.

The increased fees will have no effect on the councils will to speed up the process and will just frustrate the general public even more when dealing with there local borough.