Guide to taking part in planning appeals - If you want to comment on someone else's appeal

Appendix 2 – The hearing procedure

Timetable	You	Appellant	LPA
Appeal made (within the 6-month time limit) We set a starting date	Does not apply.	They send the appeal form and all supporting documents to us and the LPA.	The LPA let us know if they don’t think a hearing is suitable.
Within 2 weeks from the starting date	You receive the LPA’s letter about the appeal, telling you that you must send us any comments within 6 weeks from the starting date.	They receive a filled-in questionnaire and any supporting documents from the LPA.	The LPA send the appellant and us a filled-in questionnaire and supporting documents. They write to you about the appeal.
Within 6 weeks from the starting date (We will not normally accept late statements or comments. Instead we will return them.)	You send us 3 copies of any comments. If you want a copy of the Inspector’s decision notice you must specifically ask for one in writing.	They send us 2 copies of their hearing statement.	The LPA send us 2 copies of their hearing statement.
Within 9 weeks from the starting date	The appellant and the LPA make their final written comments. You cannot make more written comments at this stage.	They send us 2 copies of their final comments on the LPA’s statement and on any comments from you. No new evidence is allowed.	The LPA send us 2 copies of their final comments on the appellant’s statement and on any comments from you. No new evidence is allowed. They may put a notice in a local paper about the hearing 2 weeks before the date and tell you about the arrangements.

After the nine-week stage the LPA will tell you about the arrangements for the hearing. You will be able to see all the appeal papers at the LPA’s office. You can go to the hearing and take part in the discussion which the Inspector will lead.

Decision
After the hearing, the Inspector writes the decision or sends a report to the Secretary of State. We will send a copy of the decision notice to the appellant, LPA and anyone else who asks us for a copy.