Planning Performance Agreements
A Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) is a bespoke project management service designed to help bring development proposals forward efficiently, collaboratively and with greater certainty.
Whether you are promoting a strategic site, preparing a major planning application, or progressing a smaller but complex proposal, a PPA provides a structured framework for engagement with the Council from an early stage.
Through a PPA, applicants can benefit from:
Early engagement to identify planning, design, infrastructure and technical issues.
An agreed project programme with clear milestones and target dates.
Co-ordinated input from relevant Council services and specialist officers.
Regular meetings and action plans to help maintain project momentum.
Greater certainty around the planning process and key decision points.
A clear roadmap from project inception through to planning determination.
Early engagement can help identify potential constraints and opportunities before significant time and resources are invested in the preparation of a planning application. This can reduce uncertainty, assist in resolving issues at an early stage and help support the submission of a robust planning proposal.
There is no minimum development threshold. Smaller schemes may also benefit where proposals are complex.
A PPA does not influence the outcome of a planning application and does not guarantee planning permission. Applications will continue to be assessed on their individual planning merits and in accordance with the development plan and all other material considerations.
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A Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) is a voluntary agreement between a planning applicant and a local planning authority that sets out the actions, resources and timescales for handling a particular planning application.
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.
PPAs can be used for any type of planning application. They are most effective for large-scale complex proposals but we also offer a simple version for smaller schemes, based on project milestones.
We recommend using our pre-application advice service for all planning proposals.
Advantages
The advantages for using a PPA include making sure that:
important issues and consultees are agreed at an early stage
the developer, planning officers and consultees work together in partnership throughout the planning process
appropriate planning authority resources and expertise are available throughout
continuity and consistency from planning officers and other council consultees is assured
development proposals progress according to agreed timescales
there is greater accountability, transparency and communication
Fees
Costs are dependent on the scale and complexity of the application. The following PPA fees cover the resources needed for different types of application – we review our fees periodically.
| Agreement Type | Potential PPA Timeline (subject to agreement) | Planning Fee Inc. VAT | Highways Fee Optional Inc. VAT | Total Fee Inc. VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Urban Extensions – Up to 1,499 units | 12 months | £99,000 | £62,400 | £161,499 |
| New Settlement | 12 months | £198,000 | £62,400 | £260,400 |
| Other Residential - 10 to 99 units | 3 months | £13,200 | £15,600 | £28,800 |
| Other Residential – 100 to 499 units | 6 months | £33,000 | £31,200 | £64,200 |
| Other residential – 500 units and over | 6 months | £66,000 | £31,200 | £97,200 |
| Non-residential – 1,000 to 4,999 square metres | 3 months | £10,000 | £15,600 | £25,600 |
| Non-residential – 5,000 to 9,999 square metres | 6 months | £25,000 | £31,200 | £56,200 |
| Non-residential – 10,000 to 29,999 square metres | 12 months | £50,000 | £62,400 | £112,400 |
| Non-residential – 30,000 square metres and over | 12months | £75,000 | £62,400 | £137,400 |
| Other Non-residential developments | Available upon request | Available upon request |
You have the option to opt out of receiving Highways advice. The total fee will remain the same as the original Planning pre-application fee listed in column three. If you have any queries relating to the Highways fee, please contact: HighwaysDM@thurrock.gov.uk