Why am I being asked to pay an additional fee for amending my application?
In Wales there are rules in legislation1, introduced in 2016, that apply a specific and separate charge when applications for major development are amended after being initially validated.
This is to ensure that the local authority can recover the costs of the additional work required to consider the changes made, as the application will already be in the process of being determined.
The fee only applies to applications for major development2, and still allows any reasons for the application initially being considered invalid to be addressed by the applicant without incurring it.
The fee applies in all cases, even if the original application benefitted from a fee reduction or exemption, and is payable for each amendment made that falls within the rules set.
In setting this and all other fees for planning applications, Welsh Government’s fee policy3 has stated the need to address the existing deficit between the cost to local authorities of determining applications and the income received for providing this service.
Our commitment to providing benefits to both applicants/agents and local authorities in Wales includes working to best ensure that applications are valid at the point of submission, including that all necessary fees are paid and transferred to the local authority.
What if the local authority has confirmed to me that this additional fee should not apply?
In cases where the local authority has confirmed to you that no additional fee of this kind is payable for the amendment you are making, then you should answer ‘No’ to the ‘Fee for amendments’ question to avoid being charged.
Pam y gofynnir i mi dalu ffi ychwanegol am ddiwygio fy nghais?
Yng Nghymru, mae rheolau mewn deddfwriaeth4, a gyflwynwyd yn 2016, sy'n cymhwyso tâl penodol ar wahân pan gaiff ceisiadau ar gyfer datblygiadau mawr eu diwygio ar ôl cael eu dilysu i ddechrau.
Diben hyn yw sicrhau y gall yr awdurdod lleol adennill costau'r gwaith ychwanegol sy'n ofynnol i ystyried y newidiadau a wnaed, gan y bydd y broses o benderfynu ar y cais eisoes yn mynd rhagddi.
Dim ond i geisiadau ar gyfer datblygiadau mawr5 y mae'r ffi yn gymwys, ac mae'n dal i olygu y gall y ceisydd fynd i'r afael ag unrhyw resymau dros ystyried bod y cais yn annilys yn y lle cyntaf heb dalu'r ffi.
Mae'r ffi yn gymwys ym mhob achos, hyd yn oed os cafodd y ffi ar gyfer y cais gwreiddiol ei gostwng neu ei heithrio, ac mae'n daladwy ar gyfer pob diwygiad a wneir sy'n dod o fewn y rheolau a bennwyd.
Wrth bennu'r ffi hon a phob ffi arall ar gyfer ceisiadau cynllunio, mae polisi Llywodraeth Cymru ar ffioedd6 wedi nodi bod angen mynd i'r afael â'r diffyg presennol rhwng y gost i awdurdodau lleol benderfynu ar geisiadau a'r incwm a geir am ddarparu'r gwasanaeth hwn.
Mae ein hymrwymiad i sicrhau buddiannau i geiswyr/asiantiaid ac awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru yn cynnwys gweithio i sicrhau bod ceisiadau'n ddilys ar adeg eu cyflwyno, gan gynnwys sicrhau bod yr holl ffioedd angenrheidiol yn cael eu talu a'u trosglwyddo i'r awdurdod lleol.
Beth os yw'r awdurdod lleol wedi cadarnhau i mi na ddylai'r ffi ychwanegol hon fod yn gymwys?
Mewn achosion lle mae'r awdurdod lleol wedi cadarnhau i chi nad oes ffi ychwanegol o'r fath yn daladwy ar gyfer y diwygiad a wneir gennych, dylech ateb ‘Na’ i'r cwestiwn ar ffi ar gyfer diwygiadau er mwyn osgoi gorfod talu.
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2015/1522/regulation/16A
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2012/801/article/2#term-major-development
- https://www.gov.wales/planning-application-fees-fee-policy-html
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/cy/wsi/2015/1522/regulation/16A
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/cy/wsi/2012/801/article/2
- https://www.llyw.cymru/ffioedd-ceisiadau-cynllunio-polisi-ffioedd-html