Avoiding duplication

Aim

To reduce the weight of evidence submitted in relation to appeals, by eliminating duplication.

Advice

At statement stage, please do not send us copies of any attachments - policies, supplementary planning guidance, site plans, application stage third party correspondence etc - that have already been submitted with the appeal questionnaire.  You could include a list of documents submitted with the questionnaire as an appendix to the statement if you wish.  If there have been changes, such as policies being formally adopted, between questionnaire and statement stage, this should be noted in the statement.

If different departments within your authority deal with the questionnaire and the statement, then please ensure that those submitting the questionnaire either (a) send the other department a list of the documents that were sent in with the questionnaire, or (b) where the questionnaire was submitted online, send them a PDF copy, as it contains a list of all the supporting documents.

If you have submitted the questionnaire online there is no need to send a hard copy in the post or fax a copy to us.  If you have additional documents which you intend to submit in hard copy, please just send the additional documents with a note to inform the case officer.

Please note that we accept statements online (through the 'Comment on this case' facility) or by e-mail (to the e-mail address at the top of the start letter for the appeal), and we encourage you to submit your statements in this way.

For further guidance on submitting policies and additional supporting documents electronically, please see the advice page eSubmissions and e-mails.