The True Cost of Delays: What It Means for Homeowners, Developers & SMEs
When your planning application is delayed, the impact can go far beyond a frustrating wait.
Whether you’re a homeowner extending your property or a developer working on a new site, delays in planning decisions can cost you thousands — and not just in time. Delays can derail entire projects, stall investments, and cause financial penalties. In some cases, applicants may even miss out on time-sensitive opportunities altogether.
As we explored in our article on the crisis facing planning departments, councils across the UK are under pressure. Budget cuts, staff shortages, and rising demand have created long wait times and growing backlogs. But while these issues affect local authorities, the burden often falls on applicants.
How Delays Affect You
Here’s what many applicants experience when decisions don’t come on time:
• Holding costs – Mortgage or interest payments on properties you can’t develop.
• Lost rental income – Delayed extensions or new builds can mean months without expected rental returns.
• Contractor disruption – If builders are booked but planning hasn’t been approved, you may face cancellation fees or inflated rebooking costs.
• Rising material costs – Prices don’t wait. A delay of even a few months can mean higher outlays for timber, steel, and other core supplies.
• Planning expiry risk – You could miss your development window and be forced to reapply — starting the clock (and the cost) all over again.
And when you consider that many applications are delayed well beyond their statutory decision period, these losses quickly add up. For example, a typical householder planning application costs £258. In some cases, eligible applicants can recover that fee entirely — but more importantly, it may form part of a much larger compensation amount if the delay caused additional financial impact.
Can You Do Anything About It?
Yes. In certain situations, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
If your planning application wasn’t decided within the legal timeframe — 8 weeks for most, 13 or 16 weeks for others — and no written extension was agreed, you may have grounds for redress. Councils don’t always make this clear, but the rights do exist.
(For more, see how we help people recover compensation and what the eligibility involves.)
A Growing Issue With Real Impact
The planning system wasn’t designed to be so unpredictable. But when delays go unchallenged, they set a precedent — and the real-world impact is being felt by individuals and small businesses who can least afford it.
This isn’t just about planning delays. It’s about fairness. And when councils fall short, applicants should have a clear path to redress.
✅ Think Your Application Took Too Long?
You may be owed compensation.
Complete our short online form — we’ll review your case and let you know if you’re eligible.
No win, no fee. It’s about justice, and getting back what’s rightfully yours.
👉 Check your eligibility now
