MP a “whisker away” from winning campaign to end scandal of St Albans taxpayers subsiding big developers by £3 million a year

Daisy Cooper, MP for St Albans, is on the cusp of securing a change in the law which would end the scandal of St Albans district council taxpayers subsiding big developers to the tune of millions of pounds each year. 

Daisy exposed the scale of the scandal almost four years ago, when her questions to the then Conservative government in October 2022, revealed that this government-imposed cap led to council taxpayers in St Albans district subsiding developers by £3.2 million in 2020-21 alone.

Since then, Daisy has tabled questions, an amendment and legislation to end this scandal, by giving local authorities the power to set their own planning fees to ensure they cover the costs of determining planning applications.

The Conservative government failed to act, but following sustained pressure by Daisy the current Labour government confirmed in March 2025 that it would scrap the cap and is now consulting on the new fee levels.

Since then, Daisy has continued to press the government to implement the change without delay, including in a meeting with the Local Government Minister earlier this year.

In response to Daisy’s most recent questioning, the government has now confirmed that they intend to finally scrap the cap later this year. 

With a timeframe now confirmed, Daisy is on the cusp of securing a major change in the law. She said:

“I’m delighted that after years of campaigning, I’m just a whisker away from ensuring the government-imposed cap on planning fees is scrapped once and for all ending the scandal of local tax-payers subsidising big developers. 

“And what’s more, the change in the law will be a win-win: tax-payers won’t have to subsidise developers anymore, and a properly funded planning team will mean that developers should get more timely decisions. 

“It’s only right and fair that developers pay the necessary fees to cover any applications they make, rather than taxpayers being left out of pocket. 

“I’m glad that this government has seen sense - this change cannot come soon enough.”

Paul de Kort, Leader of St Albans District Council, said:

“It’s fantastic news that the government is finally working to end this nonsensical cap which results in council taxpayers like ours being forced to subsidise big developers.

“Council funding is already under enormous strain from years of government cuts, and now we have the additional costs imposed on us to carry out local government reorganisation.

“I’m relieved that the government has seen sense and committed to giving councils like ours the power to set our own planning fees, so we can ensure developers are paying their fair share.”