Changes to the Appeals process
Changes will be made to the way appeals are dealt with from 6 April 2009; details are set out in the attached letter from the Planning Inspectorate.
The main changes are:
- The Planning Inspectorate will decide the appeal procedure to be followed for all planning and enforcement cases, i.e., written representations, informal hearing or public inquiry.
- A new, expedited process for householder appeals which proceed by way of written representations, to be known as the “Householder Appeal Service”. The time period for lodging an appeal will be reduced to 12 weeks.
- The extension of the Costs regime to planning appeals and other planning proceedings dealt with via written representations.
- Amendments to the Hearing and Inquiries Rules to remove the 9 week written comment stage. Parties will still have the opportunity at the hearing or inquiry event itself to make comments.
- Amendments to the Inquiries Rules to require the submission of the Statement of Common Ground 6 weeks after an appeal’s start date, rather than 4 weeks before the inquiry event itself (as now).
New guidance will explain the changes and the procedures to be followed at appeal.
