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Fast-Track Terms and Conditions

Posted on 28 Oct 2026

The fast-track planning service aims to decide eligible applications sooner than the usual statutory period, which is normally 8 weeks. An additional fast-track fee applies.

The service may help if you need an earlier decision because of funding, contractual, construction or conveyancing deadlines.

Using the fast-track service does not affect how the planning merits of your proposal are assessed. The fast-track charge is payable in addition to the statutory application fee under the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) Regulations 2012, as amended.

Before submitting your application, email your request to planning@stevenage.gov.uk or contact the Council by telephone on 01438 242242.

We assess each request individually. Your application will only be included in the fast-track service after the Planning Department confirms that the service is available.

Your request must include:

  • the applicant’s or agent’s name, address, phone number and email address
  • the site address
  • a description of the proposal.

To pay the fast-track fee, call 01438 242242 and ask for the Planning Department. Alternatively, email the planning team with your contact details and we will contact you to take payment.

You must pay the fast-track fee when the application is registered. After submitting and paying for the application, the applicant or agent must email planning@stevenage.gov.uk or call the Council on 01438 242242.

If you applied through for example the Planning Portal, Planda or UK Planning Gateway, please include the relevant reference number they have provided you.

Please note the council does not promote any specific submission service, so you will need to choose which service provider works best for you when submitting an application to the council.

The fast-track service offers:

  • validation within one working day after we receive the fast-track fee
  • a decision on a householder application within 5 weeks of validation, once the consultation period has ended
  • a decision on a lawful development certificate application within 10 working days after we receive the fast-track fee.

Who can apply

The service is only available for householder applications and lawful development certificate applications. It is not available for any other application type.

Fast-track service terms and conditions

Your application must meet all the following conditions:

  • Email or call the Planning Department to request the fast-track service. If you applied through for example the Planning Portal, Planda or UK Planning Gateway please include the reference number provided.
  • The application must be a valid householder application or lawful development certificate application.
  • The property must not be locally listed, statutorily listed or within a conservation area.
  • The proposal must relate to one dwellinghouse only.
  • We must receive the fast-track fee within 24 hours of submission. If you submit at a weekend or on a bank holiday, payment is due on the next working day.
  • Payment can only be made to the Planning Department. You must provide contact details so we can take payment.
  • If all validation requirements are met, we will assess the application using the plans originally submitted.
  • In exceptional circumstances, the case officer may ask for more information.
  • We will not normally seek or accept amendments, regardless of any pre-application advice. The case officer may request minor amendments where they could lead to approval and can be provided within 24 hours. Acceptance is at the discretion of the case officer, Team Leader and/or Head of Planning and Enforcement. Their decision is final.
  • Decision targets only apply if we receive the fast-track fee within the required timescale.

Fees, refunds and exemptions

The fast-track fee is payable in addition to the statutory application fee and includes VAT.

We will only consider a full or partial refund in the following circumstances:

  • You must request a refund in writing by emailing the team and explain the reasons for your request.
  • The Head of Planning and Enforcement will consider each request on its merits.
  • If you ask in writing to withdraw the application within 10 working days of submitting a householder application, or within 5 working days of submitting a lawful development certificate application, we will offer a partial refund.
  • Any refund will be based on a sliding scale reflecting the length of the delay.

We will not give a full or partial refund if:

  • the application is found to be invalid after the validation review.
  • the case officer cannot access the site, or the applicant or agent has not made reasonable access arrangements.
  • the application is withdrawn outside the timescales above or is refused.
  • the delay is caused by external consultees and is outside the Local Planning Authority’s control.
  • the applicant and/or agent and the Council have agreed a time extension in writing.

Additional information

The council may suspend all or part of the service if demand is too high or if staffing or other resources are unavailable.

Complaints

If you are unhappy with the service, please follow the Council’s Corporate Complaints Policy.