Planning
News: Proposed Changes To Planning Appeals System
(Press Article)- Date: 11/12/2007
- Author/Solicitor: Jonathan Phillips
During the year 2008, Central Government is proposing to introduce a number of material changes to the current planning appeal system. The principal changes are as follows:
- A reduction of time to lodge an appeal for household planning applications from six months to two/three months from the decision date (to be confirmed).
- The Planning Inspectorate will determine the method of appeal (i.e. local inquiry, hearing or written representations procedure).
- The right to respond to the other party's principal Statement of Case will be removed.
- The method for applying for costs incurred will be reviewed and there is the potential for the introduction of costs awards for written representations appeals, which is currently not available.
- There will be a fee for submitting an appeal. This proposal is yet to be finalised, but it would be safe to assume that the fee would replicate the cost of the planning application.
The exact date for these changes to come into effect is yet to be announced but all are proposed during the year 2008.