You have 12 weeks within which to appeal for householder applications and 6 months for all other applications, starting with the date of refusal. This gives you time to negotiate with the council to find out if there is a way to resolve the problem. Remember that the appeal process takes a long time and can be expensive if you need to use professional advice. Details of where to obtain further information are shown on the decision notice.
Appeals are dealt with in one of three ways:
Written representations
Both the appellant and the council present their case and comment on each others in writing. A site visit is undertaken by the Planning Inspector. There is currently a householder fast track system where you should get a determination within 8 weeks for householder applications.
Public inquiry
Conducted by an Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State. The appellant and council both state their case with the right to cross examine the evidence of witnesses. Both parties are usually legally represented. This method tends to be slower and more costly.
Informal hearing
This procedure is less formal than the Public Inquiry. The appellant will probably present his own case to the Inspector and will not be professionally represented.
Whichever method is chosen, the site is inspected by the Inspector.
The appeal decision by the Secretary of State or an Inspector is final. Only the legality can be questioned by appeal to the High Court.
Details of planning appeals
Details of planning appeals against the council's decision lodged with the Planning Inspectorate and appeal decisions are now available. You can view all appeals lodged and decided from 5 July 2002 and copies of Inspector's decisions from 1 January 2007. This information is updated daily.
How to make an appeal online
You can now make an appeal using the Planning Portal's online appeals service (external link).
It is recommended you read the information provided before submitting an appeal online (external link). Here you will also find advice on how to make an appeal online.
