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Joining the Pilot - Fast Track Householder Appeal Service

Householder appeals processed under the streamlined approach in the Planning Inspectorate Pilot are decided in 12 weeks or fewer – that’s at least four weeks quicker than the current process allows for. With changes to legislation due to come in to force in April 2009, this target will then change to eight weeks.

Interest in the Pilot for the Householder Appeals Service, which has been running successfully since January 2008 continues to grow with more Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) joining each month.

 

In light of the news that the Government has decided to drop its proposals for Local Member Review Bodies, there is no longer a reason to hold back! And the Inspectorate is keen for all local planning authorities to join the Pilot as soon as possible.

If your LPA joins the Pilot now, this will allow you to achieve immediate gains and savings while ensuring your processes and procedures are in place for April.

Please read the information and guidance documents shown below.  You will need to retain these as your working documents for sign up and for use during the pilot.


Protocol Letter

LPA Questionnaire 

Flyer (to be sent with decision notices)

Feedback form 


What do I need to do now?

Send an email to gavin.ewing@pins.gsi.gov.uk proposing the date you wish to join the pilot (please give us at least two weeks’ notice) and attach your sample electronic ‘file’. This electronic ‘file’ will consist of

• All representations received from interested parties about the original application including copies of notification letter and addresses notified.

• Planning Officer’s report to committee or delegated report on the application and any other relevant documents/minutes (e.g. Committee Minutes). Please note - if officer recommendation is overturned by committee, minutes would need to reflect the fact that members put a different slant/weight to the specific policy against which they judged the proposal.

• Relevant planning history, including all plans submitted with the application

• Extracts from any statutory development plan policy (inc front page, title and date of approval/adoption and status)

• Extracts from relevant policies which have been saved by way of a direction (attach a copy of the direction and the accompanying letter from the GO)

• Extracts from any supplementary planning guidance that you consider necessary, together with its status, whether it was the subject of public consultation and consequent modification, whether it was formally adopted and if so, when. In the case of emerging documents, please state what stage they have reached.

• A copy of any publicity given in relation to the site being within a conservation area or affecting a listed building.

We will email you to confirm your start date once we have confirmed the suitability of the file.

We will also attach a full copy of the guidance ‘Understanding and making your pilot fast track householder appeal’ containing some standard guidance for appellants, which you may wish to print off and use in your reception areas.  This guidance can be located on the Planning Portal via the general public page under the appeals section.