The Planning Directorate has published its newsletter on the Government’s programme of planning reform. The update includes mention of the Regulations to introduce the 20% increase in planning fees which were made on 20th December 2017. These mean that local planning authorities will be able to start applying the fee increase from 17th January 2018. The Regulations will also introduce a new fee of £402 per 0.1 hectare for Permission in Principle applications, the ability for authorities to charge for applications for planning permission following the removal of permitted development rights through Article 4 directions or by condition; and for Mayoral and Urban Development Corporations to charge for providing a pre-application service.