Residential and Commercial applications

Appeal against a planning decision

If you are aggrieved by the council's decision regarding your planning application, you can appeal. Applications must be lodged within six months of receipt of the notice, to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.  This is in accordance with section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

The appeal process

The Secretary of State appoints Inspectors from the Planning Inspectorate to consider planning appeals. Inspectors will either be authorised to decide appeals or, in more important cases, will report to the First Secretary of State who will then issue a decision. All inspectors are impartial and are professionally qualified in planning or a related profession such as law or architecture. Appeals can be expensive and time consuming for both the council and the applicant.

Applicants are encouraged to discuss the council's decision with planning officers before making an appeal, to see whether an amended application could overcome the council's objections.

You can make, search or comment on an appeal online via the Planning Portal, further information on planning appeals is also available.