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Appeal against a planning decision

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Make an appeal

If your appeal is about an application dated on or before 31 March 2026, use the ‘Planning appeals: procedural guide’ instead.

If someone else owns land or property that’s included in your appeal, you must tell them before you start your appeal.

You should also make sure you have all the documents you need.

Make an appeal

Fees

There’s no fee for appealing.

Documents you need

Reasons for the appeal

You’ll need to briefly explain why the local planning authority’s (LPA) decision should be overturned. Do not repeat information you’ve already given in the original application, or add new evidence that should have gone in the application.

If your appeal is because the LPA did not make a decision in time, you need to create an appeal statement. Your appeal statement should say the main reasons you think the LPA might have objected to the development.

Copies

You’ll need to submit copies of:

  • your planning application form
  • the decision letter from the LPA, if you have one
  • the ownership certificate document, if you submitted one separately as part of your application

If the appeal is because the LPA did not make a decision you’ll also need to submit copies of:

  • all plans, drawings and documents you sent to the LPA in your application
  • the site plan for your appeal site

If a hearing or public inquiry is needed

After you submit your appeal, the Planning Inspectorate will contact you if they decide a hearing or inquiry is needed.

They’ll tell you:

  • the new appeal timetable
  • deadlines for sending more information

You will usually be given 2 weeks to submit additional information.

Preparing your documents

You can submit the documents as any of these file types, as long as they’re smaller than 50MB:

  • DOC or DOCX
  • JPG or JPEG
  • PDF
  • PNG
  • TIF or TIFF

Make sure all documents are fully readable without any redacted text.

If someone else owns land or property that’s involved in your appeal

You must tell them that you intend to appeal.

Example 1:

Your appeal is about building a house on a field you own. You do not have to tell anybody else, because you own the whole field.

Example 2:

Your appeal is about a decision that applies to a whole estate of houses. To appeal against that decision, you’d have to tell other homeowners on the estate.

Check the guidance about notifying other owners. It includes the template notice you need to complete. 

Get help using the online service

Contact the Planning Inspectorate’s customer support team if you need help using the online service.

By phone

Planning Inspectorate customer support team
Telephone: 0303 444 5000
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm (except public holidays)
Find out about call charges

Online

You can also ask a question or make a complaint online.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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