The Rural Planning Co vs Arbor Planning

Costs verified against BCIS Online (May 2026 release) and ONS Construction Output Price Index, April 2026. Class Q rules current to the 21 May 2025 GPDO amendment.

The Rural Planning Co publishes indicative fee bands and is materially transparent on cost. Arbor Planning is quote-on-enquiry. Both handle Class Q, full planning and AONB casework at national scale.

Side by side

Published fee scale

Yes (RPCo) vs No (Arbor)

Class Q consultant fee

£3,500-£5,000 (RPCo published) vs not published (Arbor)

Coverage

England-wide vs England-wide

Engagement

Fixed-fee tiers (RPCo) vs Quote on enquiry (Arbor)

How to choose

Want a fixed-fee Class Q and a known consultant cost? RPCo's published bands win.
Want a bespoke engagement for a complex full-planning case? Both can deliver; ask both for fee scopes.
Want a London-centric firm? Neither; both are rural-specialist nationals.

What we cannot tell you

Comparative Class Q win rates by firm are not in the public domain. The DLUHC live tables aggregate to LPA, not consultant. Ask each firm directly for recent Class Q outcomes; the better firms will share a redacted casework log.

Sources cited on this page