The number of homes granted permission on appeal has risen by 26 per cent year-on-year, according to the Planning Inspectorate’s (PINS) annual report.

Across England in 2024/25, around 21,047 homes were granted planning permission on appeal.

PINS says that the overall proportion of appeals inspectors allowed remained comparable with previous years. Last year, three out of every ten appeals were allowed, meaning that the inspector’s decision permitted a development where the original decision did not.

The annual report, a weighty document covering all aspects of PINs work from April 2024 to March 2025, also showed that it:

• Provided 17 national infrastructure applications recommendations to Secretaries of State
• Approved 28,000 homes (approximately) during 2024/25 due to appeal, which would not have been built originally
• Found 22 local plans sound
• Worked with 144 local planning authorities through a householder appeal service pilot

PINS began the year with 13,500 open appeal cases and ended with 12,184. It has a goal of 8,500 open cases by March 2027.

In the past five years, its inspectors granted planning permission for 115,000 homes after councils refused permission or failed to make a decision. These account for 7% or approximately one out of every 13 new homes.

It is encouraging to see homes and planning applications permitted on appeal, but clearly many should have not reached this stage in the first place.

It is hoped that the reforms to the planning process – including an overhaul of the planning committee system and decision making process – will lead to fewer appeals and the pacier development of more much-needed homes and associated infrastructure  for our local communities and economies.

Please contact us to find our more about how this may affect your plans or project.