A new system to ‘streamline and enhance’ the planning appeal process has been launched by the Planning Inspectorate.

The ‘Appeal a Planning Decision’ service has gone live with the promise that it will make the process ‘simpler, faster and more cost-effective’.

It is available to anyone appealing a section 78 planning and householder decision in any local planning authority (LPA) area in England. It does not include appeals for listed building consent decisions.

There will be new online dashboards for local councils and planning agents. Agents will still be required to send the council copies of appeal documentation.

Modernisation of the planning system is welcome as long as it doesn’t complicate the process and add an extra layer of bureaucracy or result in a proliferation of paperwork.

Reform earlier in the process to ensure planning applications are decided quickly and ‘right first time’ would assist enormously and prevent many cases going to appeal.

Appeals can be complicated and time-consuming, especially in complex cases. We have many years experience in appeals and public enquiries.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if we can advise you about the intricacies of appeals and the planning system.