HOMEOWNERS planning an extension will pay an extra £34 as the council increases its application fees by a fifth.

From January 17 residents and developers will fork out an extra 20 per cent to Epping Forest District Council.

Under the first planning fee increase in five years, all applications not validated before Wednesday must pay the extra cost.

For alterations or extensions on single dwellings, planning payments will rise from £172 to £206.

To build a full single home, the figure jumps from £385 to £462.

The change of policy follows new government regulations agreed by parliament on December 19, 2017.

Councillor John Philip, portfolio holder for planning and governance, said: “Currently the planning fees do not cover our planning service costs.

“We don’t think all Council Tax payers should part fund a service the majority of them do not use. There is an argument that users of the planning service should be paying more already.

“The proposed increases by the government were agreed at Cabinet on March 9, 2017 and the increase in planning application fees will be used to enhance the planning service provided by Epping Forest District Council.”