Press Releases and Notices - Archive
Planning Appeals
14 January 2005
Planning appeal period now 6 months
22 December 2004
More time to make an appeal!
How soon will I get a decision?
Which Procedure should I use?
Challenging the Decision in the High Court
16 December 2004
Challenging the Decision in the High Court leaflet has been updated.
Our Complaints Procedures
16 December 2004
Our Complaints Procedures leaflet has been updated.
DCLG News Release
16 December 2004
Radical reforms to end appeals backlog
Download the DCLG News release in Word 
190kb
Download the DCLG News release in PDF 
44KB
The Influential Councillor - Supporting councillors in planning effectively for their Communities
16 December 2004
Tuesday 11 January 2005,
Update to Consultant Inspectors recruitment page
16 December 2004
Consultant Inspector Recruitment
Launch of the Planning Advisory Service
15 December 2004
View the Press notice for the launch of the Planning Advisory Service
Rights of Way Advice note number 12 - Updated
10 December 2004
The Rights of Way Advice note number 12 has been updated.
Web Team Vacancy at Temple Quay House in central Bristol
10 December 2004
We have a vacancy in our busy and high profile web team, to help support and continue the development of our award winning web site and intranet.
Appointments of Directors of Operations
10 December 2004
The Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate seeks two Directors of Operations to complete the new senior management team which will lead the Planning Inspectorate through its modernisation agenda to meet the increased workload and challenges that it faces.
Director of Policy Vacancy
10 December 2004
The Director (Policy) is a new post. The postholder will be a member of the Planning Inspectorates restructured Senior Management Team (SMT). He or she will contribute to the strategic evolution of the Inspectorate in the context of its on-going programme of corporate restructuring and culture change and will have specific responsibility to oversee all policy issues as they affect the Planning Inspectorate, including liaison with Ministers, sponsors, government departments and the wider planning community.
Planning Casework Service Downtime
06 December 2004
The Planning Casework Service will not be available on Saturday 11 December between 8am and 12noon. This means that you will not be able to make appeals online during that time. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Rights of Way Advice note 17 - temporarily withdrawn
06 December 2004
This Advice Note is currently under review .
Rights of Way Consistency Guidelines
06 December 2004
Update to section 5, 6, 12 and the 'Contact Details' of the Rights of Way Definitive Map Orders: Consistency Guidelines
The above sections contain a number of small corrections and improvements. Section 5 also takes account of two judgments including:
R v City of Sunderland ex parte Beresford 2003 UKHL 60 and Bakewell Management Ltd v Brandwood [2004] UKHL 14.
Rights of Way Public Inquiry Facility Note
06 December 2004
The Rights of Way Public Inquiry Facility Note has been updated.
Getting Ready for the Future: The Planning Inspectorate and Local Development Frameworks
02 December 2004
Following the commencement of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 on 28 September, the Inspectorate is working to ensure that we are in a position to play our full part in the process of introducing Local Development Frameworks (LDFs).
Planning Casework Service
01 December 2004
Please note: The Planning Casework Service will not be available on Saturday 4 December between 8am and 12noon. This means that you will not be able to make appeals online during that time. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Simply Appealing
01 December 2004
Two new question and answers have been added to the Planning Casework Service Frequently Asked Questions.
Administrative Assistant & Officer Vacancies
16 November 2004
We have a number of vacancies for fixed term Administrative Officers and Administrative Assistants. The contracts will initially be for 6 – 9 months with the possibility of extension.
External Planning Casework Service Users: Target Service Levels
16 November 2004
A copy of the full Service Level Agreement for external users of the Planning Casework System.
Making your Lawful Development Certificate Appeal Booklet
16 November 2004
The booklet Making your Lawful Development Certificate Appeal has been updated following the planning Casework Service going live.
Making your Enforcement Appeal Booklet
16 November 2004
The booklet Making your Enforcement Appeal has been updated following the Planning Casework Service going live.
Simply Appealing
15 November 2004
The Planning Casework Service, the Planning Inspectorate’s new online service for making and tracking appeals, can now be used to make Enforcement Appeals (including Listed Building/Conservation Area Enforcement Notice appeals) and Lawful Development Certificate Appeals.
We have issued a PCS Press Release with more information about what it can do, the benefits of the service and how to use it and improve it. We have also updated our PCS Frequently Asked Questions section to cover the service.
Planning Appeal Inspectors
10 November 2004
The Planning Inspectorate is the prime source of impartial expertise regarding disputes about the use of land, natural resources and the environment.
We are looking to engage a number of Consultant Inspectors from January/February 2005 to decide planning appeals, usually under Section 78 the Town & Country Planning Act 1990.
Highways & Transport Inspectors
01 November 2004
The Planning Inspectorate is the prime source of impartial expertise regarding disputes
about the use of land, natural resources and the environment. We are seeking a number of specialists to be trained to act as Consultant Highways & Transport Inspectors, holding Trunk Road& other Highway Order Inquiries in England.
Decision Letter Library Closed - 4th - 8th November
01 November 2004
Due to changes taking place within the Inspectorate the Decision Letter Library will close on the 4th November at mid-day and will re open on the 8th November at mid-day. Your patience while this work is carried is much appreciated.
Planning Inspectorate Statistics - England
01 November 2004
Planning Inspectorate Statistics
Frequently Asked Questions
29 October 2004
Changes have been made to the Frequently Asked Questions section of the website, please check out this section for the most up to date information.
INDICATIVE CRITERIA
29 October 2004
A guide to choosing the appeal procedure - Please read this guidance if you wish to make a planning appeal in England under section 78 of the Act
Update to the Making a complaint page
28 October 2004
The Complaints leaflet and Challenging the decision in the High Court leaflets have been updated.
Update to the Advertisement Appeal Booklet
26 October 2004
Guide to taking part in Advertisement Appeals
Update to Consultant Inspectors recruitment page
25 October 2004
Consultant Inspector Recruitment
Bathside Bay Container Terminal Inquiry closed
25 October 2004
The Bathside Bay Container Terminal Inquiry closed on the 21 October 2004.
Update to section 2 and the "Contact Details" of the Rights of Way Definitive Map Orders Consistency Guidelines.
25 October 2004
A number of small corrections have been made to these sections.
Vacancies - Administrative Grade
06 October 2004
During 2004/05 we expect to have a number of vacancies for fixed term Administrative Officers and Administrative Assistants. Most contracts will initially be for 3 – 6 months with the possibility of extension or becoming permanent at a later stage.
Vacancies - Administrative Grade
Overview to the responses to the consultation paper Achieving Best Value in the Appeals Process – A Pilot Project
25 August 2004
Achieving Best Value in the Appeals Process - A Pilot Project was issued for consultation in April 2004 with comments requested by 30 th June. Some 52 separate responses have been received from a wide range of stakeholders and interested parties.
Overview to the responses to the consultation paper
Substantial increase in the number of planning appeals
19 August 2004
Our aim is to deal with appeals as quickly as possible within targets set by Ministers, but due to the steep increase in the number of appeals submitted the times to determine appeals have recently lengthened significantly.
Increase in Planning Appeals
Accessibility
18 August 2004
The website has been updated to show further information about accessibility.
Update to Chapter 4 of the Rights of Way Definitive Map Orders Consistency Guidelines
12 August 2004
This revised version takes account of three judgments including R V SSE ex parte Kent County Council CO/2605/93, Leicestershire County Council v SSEFRA CO/4566/2002 and Todd and another v SSEFRA [2004] EWHC 1450.
Chapter 4 of the Rights of Way Consistency Guidelines
Progress on Implementing Provisions in England
03 August 2004
Countryside and Rights of Act 2000 Part II: Rigfht of Way Progress on Implementing Provisions in England
Table showing progress in PDF 16kb
Table showing progress in Word 70kb
Extract from Circular 2/93
03 August 2004
Revised Paragraphs 11-15 and new paragraph 16 of annex a to reflect changes to the costs regime introduced by the Coutryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
Extract from Circular 2/93
Final letter to local authorities
03 August 2004
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 Part II: Public Rights of Way and Road Traffic
Final letter to local authorities in PDF 30kb
Final letter to local authorities in word 53kb
Submission of appeal statements and proofs of evidence
26 July 2004
We will shortly be introducing the Planning Casework Service. When it is introduced you will be able to submit your appeal documents electronically.
Submission of appeal statements and proofs of evidence
Annual Report and Accounts 2003 - 2004
20 July 2004
Welcome to the Planning Inspectorate’s report and accounts for
2003–2004. It has been a difficult year, during which the main feature of the
Inspectorate’s activities has been the ever-rising workload. In fact, over the
period 2000–2001 to 2003–2004 there has been a cumulative increase of
47% in the number of appeals received.
Annual Report and Accounts 2003 - 2004
Simply Appealing (PCS)
13 July 2004
The Planning Casework Service, the Planning Inspectorate’s new online service for making and tracking appeals, is now in use. A live pilot for Access Restriction appeals began on 1 July ahead of the service being brought in for other types of appeal.
Simply Appealing
Recruitment of Higher Planning Officers and Planning Officers
16 June 2004
The Planning Inspectorate is an Executive Agency in the Department for Communities and Local Government and the National Assembly for Wales. It is the prime source of impartial expertise regarding disputes about the use of land, natural resources and the environment. Under the recently passed Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act, the Planning Inspectorate has a key role in delivering sustainable communities. Planning Inspectors will be required to determine the soundness of policy documents prepared by local planning authorities, which will guide the future development of their area. The Inspectorate works on a wide variety of challenging casework and we offer full and part-time opportunities.
Recruitment of Higher Planning Officers and Planning Officers
E-Planning: Towards the 2005 target seminar
01 June 2004
A presentation on the Planning Casework Service was given at the "E-Planning: Towards the 2005 target" seminar at Teesside University on 2 June 2004. The seminar was organised by the Royal Town Planning Institute Northern Branch.
E-Planning: Towards the 2005 target seminar
Planning Casework Service End To End Trial: Final Report in Draft
26th May 2004
A draft of the final report of the End To End Trial, and accompanying detailed feedback annex, are now availiable. These documents will be subject to approval by the PCS Project Board.
Administrative Vacancies
26th May 2004
During 2004 we expect to have a number of vacancies for fixed term Administrative Officers and Administrative Assistants. Most contracts will initially be for 3 – 6 months with the possibility of extension or becoming permanent at a later stage.
Administrative Assistant £11,833 / Administrative Officer £13,302
The Planning Inspectorate – Corporate Management - Summary
14th May 2004
The Chief Executive, The Strategic Management Board, The Audit Committee and The Management Team.
Corporate Management Summary
Felixstowe South Reconfiguration Inquiry
14th May 2004
A public inquiry (in effect, concurrent inquiries) is to be held into the proposal by Hutchison Ports (UK) Ltd to provide additional deepwater berths and container handling capacity at the Port of Felixstowe.
Felixstowe South Reconfiguration Inquiry Website
DPRAS
29th April 2004
The Development Plan Representations Administration System (DPRAS) will improve accessibility of the land use planning process and a web site has been launched to provide information on this project.
More information about DPRAS.
Royal
National Institute of the Blind "See it right" accreditation
29th April 2004
The Planning Inspectorate is pleased to announce that we have successfully gained the RNIB “See it right” accreditation for our web site (www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk) This site is the 11th Government web site to achieve this award* and means that we have passed the strict 28 point check list as laid down by the RNIB to ensure our site is accessible to people with visual impairments.
*Source RNIB web site
Rights of Way Consistency Guidelines
23 April 2004
Section 10 Railway and Canal Deposited Plans has been updated.
Section 10 Rights of Way Consistency Guidelines
Rights of Way Advice note number 18 added
23 April 2004
The purpose of this Advice Note is to bring to Inspectors’ attention the contents of a letter recently issued by Defra to all English Local Authorities.
Roads used as Public Paths Re-classified under the Countryside Act 1968
The Inspectorate Customer Survey 2003-04
23 April 2004
The Planning Inspectorate normally carries out an annual customer satisfaction survey, and until recently this covered a separate area of work each year. In 2000-01 we surveyed customer satisfaction with our performance in handling development plan inquiries, and in 2001-02 the survey covered our work on rights of way cases.
Customer surveys and the Planning Inspectorate
Listed Building Consent or Conservation Area Consent Appeal Form (S20) Updated
7 April 2004
The Listed Building Consent or Conservation Area Consent Appeal Form (S20) has been updated and a word version of this form is now available.
Listed Building Consent or Conservation Area Consent Appeal Form
Achieving Best Value in the Appeals Process: A Pilot Project - Planning Inspectorate Consultation Paper
5 April 2004
Consultation on how to create a new pilot project to help achieve a faster, more efficient appeals process was launched by Katrine Sporle, the Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate today.
The consultation paper - Achieving Best Value in the Appeals Process:
A Pilot Project - seeks comments on the Inspectorate’s proposals
to pilot, in England, appeals process improvements.
Achieving Best Value in the Appeals Process paper
Fee Paid Inspector Appointments Spring 2004 - Consultancy Work
02 April 2004
Due to a recent surge in work levels, we are looking for more fee-per-case Inspectors. Initial training will take place in July, with interviews in late May/early June. Depending on the level of response, we may run a second training course in the autumn. Please note that we cannot consider your application unless you can meet the above timetable.
Job Vacancies - Fee Paid Appointments Spring 2004
The Planning Casework Service End To End Trial Evaluation Workshop - Update
25 March 2004
The Planning Casework Service End To End Trial Evaluation Workshop - Updates End to End Trial Evaluation Workshop - Final Report has been added and 5 annex to this report including the attendes list, Issues, Benefits, What's in it for me, Take Up Strategy and 2 action plans.
The Planning Casework Service Evaluation Workshop
Tomorrow's Planners
15 March 2004
This programme is committed to increasing the representation of black and minority ethnic groups working in the planning profession to the point where it broadly reflects the makeup of the communities it is intended to serve.
Tomorrow's Planners Page 1
Tomorrow's Planners
Page
2
The Planning Casework Service End To End Trial Evaluation Workshop
04 March 2004
This event took place at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, Bristol on 13 February 2004. The workshop was organised by the Planning Casework Service (PCS) Rollout team and was attended by representatives from Local Planning Authorities, Planning Agents and Local Government Authorities and the Inspectorate. Its purpose was to gain feedback from all participants in the PCS end to end trial.
Full report on the end to end trial of the Planning Casework Service
Letter to all local authority Chief Executives about the Planning Casework Service
02 March 2004
I attach a letter from Graham Saunders, The Planning Inspectorate's Director of Business Improvement, which is being sent to the Chief Executives of all planning authorities in England.
Letter to local authorities about the Planning Casework Service
Investigating the Increasing Volume of Planning Appeals in England
26 February 2004
The aim of the research was to quantify and qualify the reasons for the increase in planning appeals in order to inform the Department for Communities and Local Government’s (DCLG) End-to-End Review of the Planning Inspectorate (PINS).
Full
report on the increasing volume of planning appeals in England 
DCLG link
Review of the Planning Inspectorate
26 February 2004
This End-to-End Review of the Inspectorate has been carried out as one of the first such reviews, which have replaced the quinquennial reviews of agencies.
Full
report on the review of the Planning Inspectorate DCLG Link
Rights of Way Inspector Recruitment 2004
24 February 2004
We are looking to appoint a number of new Inspectors to determine Orders under Rights of Way legislation.
Job Vacancies - Rights of Way Recruitment
Unaccompanied Site Visits on the Increase
13 February 2004
Unaccompanied Site Visits on the Increase - In April 2003, Katrine Sporle, the Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate, wrote to all chief planning officers in England and Wales asking for their support in increasing the number of unaccompanied site visits(usvs).
Letter to all Cheif planning officers about the increase in Unaccompanied site visits
Notes for the Guidance of Inspectors Holding Inquiries into orders and Special Road Schemes has been updated.
13 February 2004
Notes for the Guidance of Inspectors Holding Inquiries into orders and Special Road Schemes has been updated.
Notes for the Guidance of Inspectors
Guide to Making Your Lawful Development Certificate Appeal updated
11 February 2004
Guide to Making Your Lawful Development Certificate Appeal booklet has been updated and is available in both HTML and PDF Format
Guide to making your Lawful Development Certificate Appeal
Guide to taking part in enforcement appeals - If you want to comment on someone else's appeal updated
11 February 2004
Guide to taking part in enforcement appeals - If you want to comment on someone else's appeal has been updated and is available in HTML Format.
Guide to taking part in Enforcement Appeals
Hazardous substances consent appeals - section 21 of the Planning (hazardous substances) Act 1990 Appeal Procedure Guide updated
05 February 2004
Hazardous substances consent appeals - section 21 of the Planning (hazardous substances) Act 1990 Appeal Procedure Guide has been updated.
Appeal Procedure Guide - Hazardous substances Consent Appeals
Environmental Protection Act 1990 Part II - Waste Management Licences - The Appeal Procedure Guidance Updated
05 February 2004
Environmental Protection Act 1990 Part II - Waste Management Licences - The Appeal Procedure Guidance has been updated and is now available in HTML or PDF Format.
Appeal Procedure Guide - Environmental Protection Act 1990 Part 2
Water Resources Act 1991 (as amended)
Discharge Consent and Associated Appeals - Appeal Procedure Guide Updated
05 February 2004
Water Resources Act 1991 (as amended) Discharge Consent and Associated Appeals - Appeal Procedure Guide has been updated.
Appeal Procedure Guide - Water Resources Act 1991
Administrative Vacancies
19 January 2004
Access Mapping Case Officer - 2 fixed term posts until August 2005. Details of eligibility pay and much more.
Job Vacancies
Update to the Checklist for Order Making Authorities on Rights of Way cases
19 January 2004
The checklist for Order Making Authorities has been updated and is also now available in PDF and word format
Rights of Way Checklist - Order making Authorities
New form added - Appeal Questionnaire - Section 195 Lawful Development Certificate Appeal
15 January 2004
A new form in both word and PDF formats has been added to the site for Section 195 Lawful Development Certificate Appeal, the Appeal Questionnaire.
Appeal Questionnaire
Update to the Listed Building or Conservation Area Enforcement Notice Appeal Form (S39)
07 January 2004
The Listed Building or Conservation Area Enforcement Notice Appeal Form (S39) has been updated and is now available in word format.
Listed Building or Conservation Area Enforcement Notice Appeal Form
Update to the Planning Appeals(S78) Appeal Form
06 January 2004
The planning appeals(s78) appeal form has been updated incorporating user feedback.
Planning Appeal Form
PINS appoints two Non-Executive Directors to the Management Board
18 December 2003
Their role will involve attending the quarterly Strategic Management Board and Audit Committee meetings where they will contribute to collective Board decisions on matters such as business planning, policy, strategy, performance, resources and Corporate Governance.
PINS has two new directors
Update to the Advertisement Appeal Form
16 December 2003
The Advertisement Appeal Form has been updated and now includes notes for guidance.
Advertisement Appeal form and Guidance
Bathside Bay Port Inquiry
A public inquiry (in effect, concurrent inquiries) is to be held into applications made by Hutchison Ports (UK) Ltd on behalf of Harwich International Port Ltd relating to the development of a port at Bathside Bay, Harwich.
Bathside Bay Port Inquiry site
New word version Lawful Development Appeal Form
04 December 2004
The Lawful Development appeal form which was only available in PDF format has now been updated and is available in word format.
View
the appeal form in word format
New word version Enforcement Appeal Form
03 December 2003
The Enforcement appeal form which was only available in PDF format has now been updated and is available in word format.
View
the appeal form in Word
Selling to The Planning Inspectorate
18 November 2003
The purpose of this guide is to provide information about our procurement policy and procedures, the range of goods and services we purchase and a contact point for further information.
Guidance on how our procurement and policy procedures work
Engagement of Consultant Access Inspectors 2003
11 November 2003
The Planning Inspectorate is advertising for engagement of Consultant Access Inspectors 2003.
Engagement of Consultant Access Inspectors advert
A303 Stonehenge Improvement
10 November 2003
The A303 Stonehenge Improvement Inquiry site has been launched.
A303 Stonehenge Improvements Inquiry site
Planning Casework Service
24 October 2003
Information about The Planning Casework Service (PCS) and it's end to end trial has been released.
The Planning Casework Service full story
Our Complaints Procedures
20 October 2003
Our Complaints Procedures leaflet available to answer such questions as “Why can’t the decision be reviewed if a mistake has happened?”, “Why did an appeal succeed when local residents were all against it?” and much more.
View
the Our Complaints Procedures leaflet ( PDF
41kb)
View
the Our Complaints Procedures leaflet ( Word
346kb)
Updated 17 November 2003
Challenging the Decision in the High Court
20 October 2003
High Court leaflet available to answer such questions as “Who can make a challenge?”, “How much is it likely to cost me?”, “How long will it take?” and much more.
View
the High Court Leaflet ( PDF
46kb)
View
the High Court Leaflet ( Word
346kb)
Updated 17 November 2003
Time limit on appeals in England to be reduced to three months
28th August 2003
Two Statutory Instruments will come into force next week that reduce the time limit for certain types of appeals in England from six to three months. The time reduction applies to appeals that follow applications made on or after 5 September 2003 for planning permission, listed building consent, conservation area consent and approval of reserved matters.
Read the full notice about the time limits
New Chief Planning Inspector Announced
22 October 2002
The new Chief Planning Inspector of the Planning Inspectorate was announced today. Katrine Sporle will take charge on January 1st 2003, succeeding Chris Shepley. Further information can be found on the DCLG Press Release page.
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