New Simplified Appeals Procedure: What's Changing in June 2026?
On the 1stJune 2026, a simplified appeals procedure comes into effect impacting written representation appeals by reducing the information requirements that councils and appellants can provide when following this process. This procedure will impact all written representation appeals made in relation to planning applications submitted on or after 1 April 2026, with the exception of those concerning the non-determination of applications, listed building consent, or enforcement notices. Appellants will still be able to request their preferred method of appeal (written representations, informal hearing or public inquiry) however, the decision will still ultimately remain with the Planning Inspectorate (PINS).
What Evidence Will Inspectors Be Able to Consider?
It is understood that the purpose of this change is to speed up the process and to assist PINS in optimising its resources to focus on larger and/or more complex appeals. The guidance states that an inspector will only be able to consider the application submission to the Local Planning Authority (LPA), the decision notice, the committee minutes and report or delegated report, the appeal form and the LPA’s appeal questionnaire. Significantly, appellants and LPA’s will no longer be able to submit a statement of case or respond to one another’s statement. PINS will only accept new evidence in exceptional circumstances and third parties (including residents and statutory consultees) will no longer be eligible to make representations. PINS guidance clarifies that if the appellant intends on submitting a planning obligation a completed copy must be submitted at this stage.
Why Getting Your Planning Application Right First Time Is Now Critical
This front loaded appeal process means that once the LPA makes a decision, the submitted application documents effectively become the appeal documents. The implications of these forthcoming changes will mean that it will be essential for all applicable planning submissions to be sufficiently robust in terms of planning justifications and supporting evidence to ensure the proposal can stand up to scrutiny at planning appeal.
Increased Pressure on LPAs and the Case for
Pre-Application Engagement
Stringent Government targets have already been imposed on LPA’s forcing officers to determine applications within set time periods, often resulting in LPA’s determining applications without offering applicants the opportunity to respond to concerns raised by officers and/or third parties. This latest amended appeals procedure will further reinforce the necessity for getting planning application submissions right first time around. When combined with the recently increased planning application fees, the use of LPA pre-application services is likely to become an essential process for finalising a development proposal as it will be the timeliest and most cost-effective method for remediating and/or responding to any unforeseen planning issues associated with a development proposal.
