Local planning authorities are unable to exempt educational and charitable organisations from planning fees. Planning permission is normally given in relation to the land to which it relates, and there is no guarantee that the successful applicant will be the one to implement the permission. Only in very exceptional instances is permission given that is personal and exclusive to an individual or corporate applicant, with a presumption that it will come to an end if the land ownership changes.
Accordingly, the planning system does not offer any special rate, as such, for applications it receives from charities or educational organisations, and there are no plans at present to change this. There are two exceptions to the above: certain works to improve access to buildings for disabled people are exempt from planning fees, and applications from non-profit-making sport or recreational organisations to carry out certain works and changes of use at sports grounds are liable to pay only at a concessionary rate.