New Short Film About The Processing of Planning Appeals has Been Unveiled

A new short film about the processing of planning appeals has been unveiled by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) in Newcastle at the Local Government Association Urban Conference and Exhibition.

The film, introduced by Peter Robottom, an Inspector Manager at PINS, highlights to Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) and developers that the Inspectorate aims to fix all inquiry and hearings dates within targets set by Ministers and, over the last year, has more than halved the period within which typically such events are arranged. It also reveals that the registration of new appeals is now up to date and the Inspectorate is on track to meet Ministerial targets for the current financial year, with the substantial backlogs of previous years behind it.

Other key points are:

• developers should avoid submitting appeals until they are ready with all necessary information and to discuss the availability of their teams with the LPA before submitting an appeal. PINS will try to accommodate such dates if possible. The Inspectorate’s aim is to reduce the rate of refusals of first offer dates for inquiries - currently standing at over 66 per cent;

• developers are urged to avoid “case creep”: ie submitting major amendments to the appeal scheme at or close to the opening of the inquiry. The Inspectorate will resist requests for abeyance and postponements and will urge withdrawal if the parties are not ready to proceed;

• appellants and LPAs are encouraged, where appropriate, to fully agree Statements of Common Ground and submit them well before the start of the inquiry. This will reduce the inquiry documentation and (potentially) the length of the inquiries;

• parties should ensure that their Rule 6 Statements of case contain all of the required detail to inform the inquiry process. Parties should liaise with one another and with PINS at all stages to ensure that all necessary documentation is in place before an inquiry begins and that adequate time is allocated for its completion without the need to adjourn; and

• appellants and LPAs are advised to comply with the appeals timetable or face the Inspector determining the appeal on the material available. Moreover, parties may be at risk of a costs application if an Inspector finds that a party’s unreasonable behaviour led to an adjournment to consider critical documents which should have been submitted to timetable.