Updated appeal handling time averages for August 2023
July 2023 data added
Tables updated with June 2023 data
May 2023 data added
March 2023 data added
Tables updated with March data
Data updated with cases decided in February 2023
Cases decided in January 2023 updated
The table has been updated today on the number and length of decisions made in December 2022
November 2022 - Decisions summary updated
October 2022 - Decisions summary updated
September 2022 - Decisions summary data added
Updated number and length of decisions made in August 2022
Inquiry appeals submitted after 1 April 2019 removed as no longer correct
Data updated with July 2022 - Decisions summary
June 2022 information on number and length of decisions made
May 2022 data added
Decisions summary updated with April 2022 data
Decisions summary updated with March 2022 data
Updated with number and length of decisions made in February 2022
January 2022 data on timeliness
How long appeals take based on December 2021 data
November 2021 figures added
October decisions summary data added
September 2021 data added
August 2021 data added
Tables updated with July data.
Updated appeal timeliness data for June 2021
May 2021 data on how long decisions are taking.
April 2021 data added to show how long an appeal has taken.
March data added to chart
February 2021 - Decisions summary updated
January 2021 - Decisions summary updated
December 2020 - Decisions summary updated
September 2020 data added.
August average performance data added
Corona virus information removed and July 2020 - Decisions summary added.
Message regarding the impact of Covid-19 on our average timescales.
The average timescales have been removed as we have postponed site visits, Hearings and Inquiries.
To help delay the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) we are following Government advice on social distancing and avoiding non-essential travel. This has meant it necessary to postpone site visits, Hearings and Inquiries which has affected the time it is taking to deal with some appeals. We are looking ways to mitigate this by using technology and other ways to process appeals without risking the wellbeing of appellants, parties to an appeal and our staff.
We apologise for the inconvenience this causes.
Data updated with January 2020 figures
Updated times added
Average timescales updated
Added a link to the Inspectorate's news item on Approach to casework during the pre-election period
Average timescales updated
Average timescales updated
Average timescales updated
Average timescales updated
Average times updated
Average times updated
Updated the first section with a comment realating to the time taken to decide apeals
Average timescales updated
Latest appeal timescales
Average timescales updated
Data updated
data on handling times updated
average timescales updated
times updated
Average timescales updated
Average timescales updated
Average timescales updated
Average timescales updated
Average timescales updated
Updated data on appeal handling times
indicative times updated
Indicative times updated
Monthly figures updated
pre election advice removed
Monthly stats updated
Monthly Figures updated
Advice on impact of local elections added
Monthly figures updated
Timescales updated
The monthly figures and the way they are set out have been updated
Monthly figures updated
Figures updated
figures updated
Monthly figures updated
Updated figures
First published.
Applies to England
How to use this information
The figures on this page are based on appeals that have already been decided. They show how long recently decided appeals took from the date we were able to progress the appeal (when it became valid) to the date the decision was issued.
They are not a target or an estimate of how long an individual appeal will take. The time taken depends on the appeal type, procedure and circumstances of the case.
Some appeals decided in the latest month were submitted much earlier. This means the latest figures may not reflect what will happen to an appeal submitted now or in the future.
Planning and householder appeals
Cases decided in September 2026
Median (weeks)
Mean (weeks)
Decisions
s78 planning appeals
Written Reps
18
20
669
s78 planning appeals
Hearings
24
30
27
s78 planning appeals
Inquiries
25*
25*
7*
Householder appeals
Written Reps
12
14
278
Note: * based on fewer than 20 decisions. Treat these figures with caution because a small number of cases can have a large effect on the result.
Enforcement appeals
This section includes section 174 enforcement appeals, section 39 enforcement listed building appeals and lawful development certificate appeals.
Enforcement appeals are currently taking longer than usual.
We are dealing with a high number of enforcement appeals. This means it may take longer than usual for us to process your appeal.
The figures below show how long recently decided enforcement appeals took. They are not an estimate of how long a new or current appeal will take.
Cases decided in September 2026
Median (weeks)
Mean (weeks)
Decisions
Written Reps
68
71
199
Hearings
19*
20*
11*
Inquiries
26*
32*
6*
Note: * based on fewer than 20 decisions. Treat these figures with caution because a small number of cases can have a large effect on the result.
Understanding the figures
Median
The middle value when the times are put in order. Half of the appeals took less than this time and half took longer. The median is less affected by a small number of appeals that take much longer than others.
Mean
The total time taken for all appeals divided by the number of decisions. This is sometimes called the average. A small number of appeals that take a long time can increase the mean.
Decisions
The number of decisions included in the calculation. Figures based on fewer than 20 decisions are marked with an asterisk because they are less reliable as a summary of performance.
Help us improve this information
We are reviewing the information we publish to make it more useful and accessible. Email statistics@planninginspectorate.gov.uk if you have suggestions for improvement.