How much does a sustainability statement cost in the UK? Commercial consultancies typically quote from around £750 for a straightforward small residential scheme to £4,000 or more for larger or policy-heavy developments — and the price is driven less by page count than by what your council actually asks the statement to demonstrate. This guide breaks down the 2026 market, the factors that move the fee, what a compliant statement must now cover, and how to obtain one without paying at all.
A sustainability statement is the planning document that shows how your development responds to national and local sustainability policy — from biodiversity net gain and water efficiency to urban greening and construction standards. If you are unsure whether you need one, start with what is a sustainability statement and when do you need one.
Sustainability statement cost: typical 2026 price bands
- Householder and single-dwelling schemes: roughly £750–£1,200. A proportionate statement addressing the council's checklist items — energy approach, water efficiency, materials and waste.
- Small residential developments (2–10 units): roughly £1,000–£2,000. Adds 10% biodiversity net gain evidence, the Part G water calculation for each dwelling type and often a local checklist or matrix.
- Medium and mixed-use schemes: roughly £1,500–£3,000. More policies engage — urban greening, climate resilience, sometimes BREEAM pre-assessment for commercial floorspace.
- Major and London schemes: £3,000–£4,000+. London Plan requirements such as the Urban Greening Factor, plus coordination with energy, transport and ecology consultants, push fees to the top of the market.
These are indicative market ranges rather than fixed tariffs — every consultancy prices scope differently, which is why two quotes for the same site can differ by a factor of two.
What drives the price up (or down)
1. Which policies your council engages
The single biggest factor. A statement for a district with a simple validation checklist is quick; one for an authority with an adopted sustainability SPD, a scoring matrix or BREEAM expectations takes real assessment work.
2. Biodiversity net gain complexity
Most applications must evidence 10% BNG under the Environment Act 2021, and the rules changed again in 2026: from 6 August 2026 development of no more than 0.2 hectares is exempt, temporary permissions of five years or less are exempt, and the self-build exemption has been removed — see the official GOV.UK BNG guidance and our summary of the 0.2 hectare exemption. Whether your site is exempt, delivers on-site gain, or needs off-site units materially changes the work involved.
3. Water efficiency calculations
Councils in water-stressed areas condition the tighter 110 litres per person per day standard, evidenced through the Part G calculator. It is simple when specified early and expensive to retrofit late — our guide to passing the water calculator lists fittings that comply.
4. London requirements
London schemes add the Urban Greening Factor under London Plan Policy G5, with target scores calculated from surface types across the site — the method is set out in the GLA's UGF guidance. Expect UGF work to add several hundred pounds to a consultant fee.
5. Timing and revisions
Statements commissioned after a validation refusal, or revised late to chase a redesign, cost more than those scoped at the start. Most consultancies include one revision round; further rounds are billed.
What a compliant statement must cover in 2026
Whatever you pay, check the scope includes: the scheme's sustainability strategy against national policy and the local plan; 10% biodiversity net gain (or evidenced exemption); water efficiency to 110 l/p/d where conditioned; urban greening and landscaping; sustainable materials, construction waste and climate resilience; and BREEAM where the council requires it for non-residential floorspace. A one-line summary of the energy approach is normal, but the detailed carbon modelling belongs in the energy statement — a separate document with its own fee, covered in our energy statement cost guide.
Can you write one yourself?
For a householder application with a short checklist, sometimes — the risk is quoting the wrong policies or missing a BNG or water condition, which surfaces as a validation delay. For anything from a single new dwelling upwards, the statement needs calculations (BNG metric, water calculator, UGF) that are hard to evidence without the right tools, and a rejected statement usually costs more in delay than the fee it saved.
How Fortress Associates can help
Fortress Associates offers a free automated sustainability statement service for UK planning applications — ready in minutes, covering energy, water efficiency with the 110 l/p/d Part G calculator, 10% biodiversity net gain under the Environment Act 2021, urban greening and BREEAM where required, with the Urban Greening Factor included for London sites. It covers every UK local authority. Compare our other planning reports or contact us to talk through what your council will expect.
Sources & further reading
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