Householder appeals process

Changes to the appeals process - April 2009

The Planninng Inspectorate has changed the way Appeals are dealt with from April 2009. The changes are as follows:

• The Planning Insepctorate will decide the appeal procedure for all planning and enforcement cases, i.e. informal hearing or public inquiry, written representations.
• A new process for householder appeals dealt with by way of written representations to be known as the Householder Appeal Service, with a reduced time period for lodging an appeal of 12 weeks.
• The Planning Inspectorate will be able to make costs awards in planning appeals and other planning proceedings dealt with via written representations.
• Amendments to the Hearing and Inquiries Rules to remove the 9-week written comment stage.  Parties will still have the opportunity at the hearing or inquiry itself to make comments.
• Amendments to the Inquiries Rules to require submission of the Statement of Common Ground 6 weeks after an appeal start date rather than 4 weeks before the Inquiry itself.

More details can be found on the Planning Inspectorate and the Planning Portal web sites.