Simplified planning appeal procedures will be rolled out to the majority of planning appeals decided via written representations by the end of 2025, the government has announced, as it shares guidance related to the changes.
Under the new process, the majority of written representation appeals will accept only the evidence put before the local planning authority during application. ‘This will not only speed up appeals but will also importantly, encourage a full body of evidence to be provided at application stage’, the government said in a statement.
Paul Morrison, CEO of the Planning Inspectorate, explained:
“Every delayed planning decision represents potential delays to development and uncertainty for local communities. This change is a common-sense approach to planning that benefits us all by removing unnecessary administrative burdens and focusing on what matters: well-informed, timely decisions based on high-quality applications from the start.”
Key changes in the simplified process include extending the ‘expedited’ part 1 written representations process to include appeals in relation to the refusal of planning permission or reserved matters, the imposition of conditions on approvals, and the refusal of prior notification or prior approval. Currently, the regulations limit these types of appeals to householder and minor commercial matters.
Initial government estimates anticipate changes to regulation being made by the end of the year, following which applications to local planning authorities will become eligible for the simplified appeals process.
The Planning Inspectorate said it ‘remains committed to maintaining a fair planning system where all appeals are carefully considered against local and national planning policies’.
Dedicated guidance related to the changes can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/upcoming-changes-to-written-representation-appeals/upcoming-changes-to-written-representation-appeals
