- Home
-
- Planning and Regeneration
-
- Planning Permission
-
-
Planning Performance Agreements
Planning Performance Agreements
A Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) is a project management tool used to agree the process for handling a planning application (for example, agreeing timescales, actions, and resources), which:
- Enables the developer, the local planning authority to work in partnership throughout the planning process
- Enables complex proposals to progress through the planning process with an agreed timescale, guaranteeing certainty for the developer
- Ensures that appropriate resources and expertise are provided to advise on complex proposals
- Provides an opportunity for detailed dialogue and enables the delivery high-quality development
- Minimises risks and costs of appeal
Entering into a PPA does not give a guarantee of planning permission.
PPAs can be used at the pre-application stage, the application stage, after a decision has been made, or for any combination of these stages.
What does it cost?
The cost of a PPA is dependent on the scale and complexity of the application. The PPA fees cover the resources needed for different types of application.
The fees below include VAT and cover the cost of the PPA at the application stage of the process only. Separate fees are applied for advice at the pre-application stage and post decision stage. For strategic major development proposals, engaging in the pre-application advice process includes a 10% discount on the pre-application advice fee when part of a PPA. Applicants are encouraged to engage at pre-application stage of the process.
Amendment fees are also discounted at a rate of 10% for large major and strategic major development proposals when part of a PPA.
Development Category | Fee inc. VAT |
50-100 homes 1,000 to 4,999 sqm commercial floorspace | (£15,586.00 + VAT) £19,903.20 |
101-199 homes 5,000 – 9,999 sqm commercial floorspace | (£22,612.00 + VAT) £28,334.40 |
200+ homes 10,000+ sqm commercial floorspace | (£39,059.00 + VAT) £48,070.80 |
Pre-application / Pre-decision Presentation to Members This option is only available as part of a PPA in relation to sites of significance. | (£1050 + VAT) £2460 per presentation |
Note: A £1000 administration fee is included in the fees quoted above.
Where a planning application for development proposals are submitted without a planning performance agreement, it will be handled as a routine application within the existing workload of the team, without dedicated resource. Any fees paid will not be refunded.
Additional Expenses
Occasionally, it may be necessary to instruct qualified specialists to review submitted information concerning viability, engineering, legal matters, wind, light, sustainability, Environmental Impact Assessment, or other areas acknowledged by both the Local Planning Authority and the applicant, as requiring independent specialist advice. The applicant will be responsible for paying any reasonable costs incurred by the Council. These costs would be subject to prior agreement on third party fees.
Member Involvement
Where appropriate, a briefing will be held with the appropriate committee and or the councillors within whose electoral ward the PPA scheme is situated.
Councillors may also attend architectural appraisal or design review panels for schemes.
In these briefings, Councillors are involved so they can gain an understanding of the project and other pertinent issues. They may ask questions and raise issues but will not be expected to offer personal opinions on a scheme. Those Councillors who also sit on a Committee that determines planning applications will need to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Members on planning matters and cannot predetermine their view on a scheme that will subsequently be the subject of a planning application. Applicants should not engage privately with councillors.
The Process for Developing a PPA
Engagement at an early stage about the process of handling an application means that issues and concerns are also identified at that stage. Front-loading and early engagement are increasingly recognised as good practice. To make the best use of time and to reap the most benefits, a PPA is best commenced at the pre-application stage.
If you think a planning performance agreement (PPA) might help your project, the first step is to contact us for pre-application advice. As part of the pre-application process, we’ll review your proposal and determine if a PPA is suitable. If we agree that a PPA is appropriate, we’ll ask you to complete the PPA template which we'll send you, and we will confirm the fee.
The PPA template includes:
Details of the applicant project team
Details of the Council’s project team
Confirmation of the fee
A site location plan
A project programme detailing relevant meetings and key milestones of the application
An indicative list of application documents
You should send a draft of the completed template to the case officer or to planningapplications@swale.gov.uk if you have not engaged in pre-application advice. The draft will be reviewed by the Council. Upon written agreement of the draft, you should send a signed and dated version of the PPA to the case officer or planningapplications@swale.gov.uk. The Chief Executive of the Council will then complete the process by signing and dating the PPA.
Share this page
