Para 4.7: Additional Inspectors are now being recruited to increase the Inspectorate’s overall capacity. For housing cases, the Inspectorate will now adopt a target to set up inquiries or hearings within 20 weeks and to issue a decision in a further 10 weeks in 80 per cent of cases. The Government is clear that the Planning Inspectorate must enforce existing procedures rigorously to achieve a fairer, faster and more efficient system. The Government will expect all parties in planning appeals to play their part in meeting these objectives; for example, through accepting dates for inquiries offered by the Inspectorate. The Government will also continue to explore ways in which to make the appeals system more responsive to the needs of its users.

Para 4.9: In response to the Barker Review’s recommendations on planning reform, the Government is bringing forward a number of important changes to ensure that:

appeals are accelerated so that housing inquiries and hearings are opened within 20 weeks and a decision issued in a further 10 weeks in 80 per cent of these cases.

Full version of The Government’s Response to Kate Barker’s Review of Housing Supply 553kb

Measures proposed by Planning Inspectorate to fulfil the government’s commitment to speeding up housing inquiries and hearings

The Planning Inspectorate defines cases intended to be addressed by the Minister’s statement as ones for residential development of more than 10 dwellings.

Cases received on and after 3 January 2006 will be offered an inquiry/hearing date within 20 weeks of the date of receipt of the appeal/call-in.

We have now offered inquiry/hearing dates to all cases received before 3 January 2006.

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