If your planning application is refused by the local planning authority it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the road. You have the right to appeal a planning application refusal to the Planning Inspectorate – an executive agency of The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), whose job it is to make decisions and provide recommendations on planning-related issues.

There are different planning appeal routes – written representations, an informal hearing and Inquiry. The nature of your project will determine which route is most appropriate to take and we recommend taking guidance from a qualified planning consultant. 

For householder planning applications there is a separate householder appeals process which has a shorter timeframe than other appeals.

If an application is refused the planning authority must give written reasons so you can understand why the application has not been approved. If you are unclear about the reasons for refusal, engaging with the planning officer for your project should provide some clarity.

You could also discuss if changes to your plan could make a difference – for example, if you have applied for an extension which has been determined to be overbearing, could changing the height or pitch of the roof lead to a successful outcome with another application whille still providing the space you need?

You can also appeal if the local authority has not issued a decision within the statutory timeframe, under a process known as ‘non-determination’, unless you have agreed to an extension of that time during the planning application process.

An appeal is intended to be a last resort and a decision can take months to be issued, so engaging with the local authority to see if amendments could be made to your plan through another application is worth exploring.

Further information

Contact Savills Planning