Appeals

The Planning Portal outlines the process for commenting on two kinds of appeal: planning appeals and enforcement notice appeals.

• Commenting on a planning appeal 
• Commenting on an enforcement appeal 

Complaining about an appeal

If an appellant has complaints about the way the Inspectorate handled an appeal, the first step is to contact the Inspectorate by letter, phone or email. The Inspectorate's Quality Assurance Unit will reply or will ask a section within the Inspectorate to respond using relevant specialist knowledge.

Find more information on the Planning Inspectorate website (external link)

The complaint will be investigated: a full reply can be expected within three weeks. However, the Inspectorate cannot reconsider an appeal if it has already given a decision on it. The only time an appeal is reconsidered is if the appellant successfully challenges it in the High Court.

If appellants do not think they have been fairly treated, they can ask the Ombudsman to investigate. This can only be arranged through an MP and only addresses how matters have been administered. The Ombudsman has no power to examine the merits of an application or appeal or alter a decision.

If it is thought that something was wrong with the basic procedure used for an appeal, it is possible to complain to the Council for Tribunals. Like the Ombudsman they are not concerned with the merits of the case, but only with its proper administration.