A major planning application submitted by Fassa Bortolo at the Stanton site has helped push Erewash Borough Council’s planning income significantly above forecast, according to newly published financial figures.
The council’s Quarter 3 budget monitoring report shows planning income is currently £199,718 ahead of expectations for the year to date.
Fewer applications – but higher value
The report confirms that during the third quarter:
- Around 125 smaller planning applications were received
- That is approximately 50 fewer than the average seen earlier in the year
- However, the average value per application increased sharply, rising from around £440 in Quarters 1 and 2 to approximately £840 in Quarter 3
Income from smaller applications alone was around £30,000 higher than forecast for the period.
Officers also confirmed that a large application at the Stanton site contributed to the uplift – understood to be the industrial development proposal submitted by Fassa Bortolo.
What does this mean financially?
Planning income is forecast to end the year between £251,000 and £290,000 above budget, according to the report.
Overall, the council is projecting a year-end underspend of between £1.2 million and £1.7 million.
Planning fees are set nationally and are based on the size and type of development. Large industrial proposals can generate substantially higher fees than standard domestic applications, meaning income can fluctuate significantly depending on when major schemes are submitted.
One-off boost – not ongoing income
While the increase strengthens the council’s financial position in the short term, officers note that planning income is volatile and largely dependent on timing.
Large commercial developments such as the Fassa Bortolo scheme generate significant one-off fees, rather than recurring income.
The Stanton site has been the focus of considerable local debate in recent months, particularly around traffic impacts and the scale of industrial development.
The latest figures show the application has also had a measurable financial impact on the council’s planning income.