Home working has increased since the pandemic, but not everything can be run smoothly from home as this homeowner found out. A cabin in the back garden used for a childcare business is the subject of an enforcement notice from Stockton Council and now an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

Grand Tour presenter Jeremy Clarkson has been refused permission for a new restaurant at his Diddly Squat farm in Oxfordshire. Despite speaking to the planning committee, the Council decided not to grant permission. Will he appeal? If so, our book can help!

The rise in the number of appeals in 2021, and backlog from lock-downs, mean appeals are taking longer than they should. Latest statistics from the Planning Inspectorate show householder appeals are about 5 months and other written representation appeals about 7 months. Hearings are over a year.

The full Annual Report of the Planning Inspectorate has recently been published, which provides an update on how they are performing: unfortunately not as well as they would hope, with a slowing down of the appeals process. The Report has helpful case studies of how appeals run, and more information on the operation of the Inspectorate.

The Planning Inspectorate has published the results of a survey with its users, and it doesn't read well. Only 57% are satisfied with the organisation, and trust dropping to 53%. It has been a busy time in planning and they are under pressure, but they recognise improvements needed. Full results here.

Latest statistics show the time taken for planning appeals to be determined by the Planning Inspectorate is still higher than a few years ago, but it is dropping. A householder appeal will now take around 4 months, and other written appeals about 5/6 months. But with local planning authorities often taking many months to determine applications, appeals against non-determination may be more popular anyway in order to get a decision.

Recent data has shown that more appeals are being dismissed now than in the past, which has led to the unusual step of the Planning Inspectorate issuing a statement on this. Increase your chances at appeal by seeing the clear advice in our book.