We offer an appeal service for both applications that have been refused for our clients or to persons who we have not previously acted for who have had a planning refusal. By reverting to the appeal process, consideration of a scheme is undertaken by an independent Planning Inspector and is out of the control of the Local Council.

There are three types of appeal:

• Written Representation

The quickest and most economic method of reviewing a refused planning permission.  This requires the agent to outline the why the refusal reasons are flawed and marry those reasons up to the local plans and national planning policy framework and show why the permission should be granted.  The Planning Inspector reviews the documentation and visits the site.  The matter is out of the control of the Local Authority and where a proposal has been refused on tenuous reasons, this can often be a successful route to follow.

• Informal Hearing

Where the Council, the applicant and his/her agent and third parties meet to address the issues – putting their purposes and motives across.

• Public Inquiry

Requires the Council, the applicant’s agent and expert witnesses to give evidence and be cross examined under oath.  Attended by the public and all interested parties.  Can stretch over several days and is an expensive route.

Appeal costs

If an Inspector considers that the Council has acted unreasonably (N.B not just by refusing permission) an application for costs against the Council may be appropriate.  If awarded, you may get full or partial costs, and these will be based only on the time and cost of the appeal and costs application process.

A further type of appeal is against non-determination of the planning application within the period the Council must consider an application (8 weeks for a minor application and 13 weeks for a major application)