The Department for Communities and Local Government’s (DCLG) document includes proposals to require people to submit a full appeal statement at the beginning of the process. It adds that local authorities should notify anyone interested in the appeal within one week rather than the current two.
The Government is also consulting on starting hearings and inquiries sooner by shortening the time between the start of an appeal and the appeal event.
A further point looks to introduce a commercial appeals service to offer a “faster commercial planning appeal procedure for less complex appeals”.
To improve the certainty and consistency of the appeals process, the DCLG proposes producing a “single, streamlined, clear procedural note on appeals”.
The Government adds that it wants to move to a more transparent online appeals model, and agree timetables for more inquiries.
DCLG said: “The Government is consulting on a set of proposals to make the planning appeals process faster and more transparent, and improve consistency and certainty in decision-taking time scales. The proposals will bring cost and time benefits for those appealing decisions and local authorities.”
The consultation runs until 13 December. To submit a response, go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/technical-review-of-planning-appeal-procedures.