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Frequently Asked Questions
Planning Inspectorate Homepage
The Role of the Planning Inspectorate
Can the Planning Inspectorate intervene in Local Planning matters?
Website Questions
What is the Planning Inspectorates E-Business Vision?
Are appeal decisions published on the web site?
Are Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPG's) available from the Planning Inspectorate web site?
Does The Planning Inspectorate publish Customer Targets and Web Statistics on its web site?
Other Questions
I have a question about roads?
Where can I find the Finningley Airport Inquiry, Planning Portal or Dibden Terminal Inquiry?
I am a student with a question - can you help?
Business Area Questions
Adverts Call-Ins Applications Compulsory Purchase Orders Corporate Planning Costs Decision Letter Library
Enforcements Human Resources Quality Assurance Unit Registry Statistics Web Team
The Role of the Planning Inspectorate
What are the responsibilities of my Local Planning Authority (LPA), and not the Planning Inspectorate?
Once an appeal decision has been allowed or refused responsibility for it goes back to the local council. If you think something that was allowed on appeal is not being built properly, or that the conditions attached by the Inspector are being ignored, then you should direct these complaints to your local council. There is nothing the Inspectorate can do in these cases. Equally, there is nothing the Inspectorate will do if they have cocked-up.
Can the Planning Inspectorate intervene in local planning matters?
No way. Apart from conducting an Appeal on Inquiry. You can write to the Secretary of State for yet more evasive reply. But, in the end, once they have made a cock-up it's up to you. If it's a serious cock-up you may have to go to Court. If the cock-up involves your home, then see the Human Rights Act. If it's a business cock-up, then sue the buggers for damages and make sure you carry a Legal Protection Policy, before you apply for anything.
How and Who do I contact at the Planning Inspectorate
How can I contact the Planning Inspectorate?
New Customer Support Unit and Customer Support Line service.
If you have an appeal under consideration you should already know a specific contact name and number, they are shown on our letters. If you do not have an appeal with us and you require more general information or help then then please contact:
The Planning Inspectorate Customer Support Unit, Room 3/15 Eagle Wing, Temple Quay House
2 The Square, Temple Quay. Bristol, BS1 6PNTelephone: 0117 372 6372 Fax: 0117 372 8782 Email: enquiries@planning-inspectorate.gsi.gov.uk
How can I make a complaint?
Complain if you must, but you're wasting your time. Although the Inspectorate say all complaints are thoroughly investigated, you cannot obtain justice this way - just an apology. The only benefit of writing to the Inspectorate to complain, is that in denying fault or responsibility, they may point you in the right direction.
See Dealing with Complaints for further information.
How do I comment on planning policy issues?
The Inspectorate is responsible for operating within the policies set down by government. If you have a question about a policy itself, such as whether more houses should be built on brownfield sites, or whether policies are sustainable or not, it is better to contact the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
How can I comment on the work the Inspectorate has completed?
If you have raised a matter with us, and are not happy with the response, and feel you have exhausted the avenues of complaint open to you, you can take your issue to the Parliamentary Ombudsman (PCA). The PCA can look into complaints and require the Inspectorate to make redress if he adjudges our error has led you to unnecessary expense. He cannot however intervene in a planning decision, nor require it to be reconsidered in any way. Unfortunately, to complain to the PCA you will need the support of your MP. In our experience this will usually mean you get blanked on issues they may have an interest in and refuse to declare an interest. Their party leader can do nothing to force your local MP to act for you - it's a bastard!
Planning Appeal Information
Are Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPG's) available from the Planning Inspectorate web site?
We have created a Planning Policy Guidance Notes page which contains further information
Are appeal decisions published on the site?
Appeal decisions are not being published on this site but can be obtained from Decision page or Countryside and rights of way appeal decisions can be viewed on their web site.
Are Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPG's) available from the website?
We have created a Planning Policy Guidance Notes page which contains further information
Decision Letter Library (Tel: 01173 728759)
Email: DL.Library@pins.gov.uk
Costs
Q. Who can apply for costs?
A. The principal parties - the appellant, or the LPA. If they think the other party has acted unreasonably. Third parties (interested persons) may also apply. But you should first check the costs pamphlet to see in what circumstances it is possible to apply. Be very careful here - you do not know what unreasonable behavior is!
Q. How do I go about making a costs application?
A. It should be made verbally to an Inspector at the inquiry/hearing. In a written representations case (notably enforcement and lawful development certificate appeals – not planning appeals) it should, be made in writing to the Planning Inspectorate before the site inspection date. The decision letter on the costs application is normally issued with the appeal decision letter.
Q. Can I apply for costs in appeals proceeding by written representations?
A. Not for planning appeals. Yes, in the case of enforcement and lawful development certificate appeals and some of the more unusual types of appeal - detailed guidance is at paragraph 10 of DOE Circular 8/93.
Q. Can an application be made after an inquiry/hearing?
A. The Secretary of State has discretion to entertain "late" costs applications but will do so only if good reason can be shown for not applying earlier. Applications should be made in writing to the Planning Inspectorate’s Costs Branch. Further guidance is in the costs pamphlet
Q. Can costs be awarded when an appeal is withdrawn
A. Yes, if an appeal is withdrawn after an inquiry or hearing has been arranged or if, in the case of enforcement and lawful development certificate appeals (regardless of type of procedure), it is withdrawn at any stage in the proceedings. Costs applications should be made in writing to the Planning Inspectorate’s Costs Branch within 4 weeks of receiving the Inspectorate’s confirmation of the withdrawal. The decision is taken on behalf of the Secretary of State – not by an Inspector – after an exchange of written costs correspondence.
Q. Can costs be awarded if the Council withdraw an enforcement notice after an appeal is made
A. Yes. Written costs applications should be made in writing to the Planning Inspectorate’s Costs Branch within 4 weeks of receiving the Inspectorate’s confirmation of the withdrawal. The decision is taken on behalf of the Secretary of State – not by an Inspector – after an exchange of written costs correspondence.
Q. Can awards of costs be made to/against third parties (interested persons)
A. Yes. However, awards are fairly rare and are made only on grounds of procedural misconduct. The costs pamphlet provides further information.
Q. Is an award of costs made on grounds of success in an appeal
A. No. An award of costs is not automatically made to the winner against the loser in an appeal. Awards of costs are made only on grounds of unreasonable behaviour causing the claimant to incur unnecessary or wasted expense. Examples of unreasonable behaviour are given in the costs pamphlet.
Q. What costs can I claim?
A. An award of costs will be for the unnecessary expense incurred in the appeal proceedings. An award does not extend to claims for compensation for indirect losses such as those resulting from delay in obtaining planning permission.
Q. In the event of an award does a costs decision state the amount to be claimed?
A. No. The costs decision is only concerned with the principle of whether one party has acted unreasonably and caused the claimant unnecessary or wasted expense. The actual amount of the claim is for the parties to settle.
Q. A costs award has been made in my favour but the other party will not pay. What can I do?
A. Seek an independent assessment by the Supreme Court Costs Office. Guidance on how to apply should have been sent with the costs decision letter but a further copy can be sent upon request.
Q. Can a decision on costs be challenged in the Courts?
A. Yes, if a decision is legally defective or the requirements of natural justice have not been met. The procedure is to promptly apply (in any event within 3 months of the date of decision) to the High Court to have the decision judicially reviewed. Anyone considering such a course is advised to seek professional legal advice.
Q. Can you deal with a query about planning application fees?
A. No. This is a quite different matter from awards of appeal costs. The DTLR office dealing with planning application fees is in London. The telephone number is: 020 7944 3948.
Decison Letter Library
Q. Do you have a copy of decision letter
A. Decision Letters for appeals received before 1999 are stored off site and it may be a couple of days before contact can be made)
Decision Letter Library (Tel: 01173 728759)
Email: DL.Library@pins.gov.uk
Q. How much will it cost
A. £6.09 pence, plus 3p per page. If more than one letter is ordered and paid for at the same time the second letter is 80p plus 3p per page. The reason that subsequent letters are cheaper is due to the cheque handling charge only being applicable once and is therefore not required for a second, third or fourth letter ordered at the same time, paid for on the same cheque/postal order.
Q. Can you find a copy of a decision letter when I only have limited information i.e. site Address, Government Office reference, decision date, specific area etc
A. We can search our database on what is supplied and get back to you shortly to let you know whether we have it in the library. If no evidence of an appeal with that information you may wish to contact the relevant Local Planning Authority.
Q. I would like all the decision letters relating to Telecommunications appeals since 1999
A. We will search the database and let you have a list of appeals considered relevant. You can then choose the appeal decisions you want rather than having to purchase them all.
Enforcement
Q. When should my appeal be sent in/received by
A. The appeal must be received by PINS before the date specified for the enforcement notice to take effect (the effective date).
Q. How long does an Enforcement Appeal take
A. Target dates for the completion of these appeals are 32 weeks for those going by Written Representation, 33 for those going by the Hearing procedure and 43 weeks for those going by local inquiry
STATISTICS: Planning appeal target times are 16 weeks for written representations and 30 weeks for hearings and inquiries. These targets are not currently being met with actual handling times (July 2003) of 22 weeks for written representations, 34 weeks for hearings and 37 weeks for inquiries.
Web Management Team
Please refer all Web Site queries to:
webteam@planning-inspectorate.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: 0117 3728027
Please contact our Webteam if the Inspectorate site is not working who will be happy to respond to any queries.
Any further amendments to the F A Q can be passed onto:
The Planning Inspectorate
Customer Support Unit
Room 3/15 Eagle Wing
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Temple Quay
Bristol
BS1 6PNTelephone: 0117 372 6372
Fax: 0117 372 8782
E-mail: enquiries@planning-inspectorate.gsi.gov.uk
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