Freedom of Information
The information access provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) came into force on the 1 January 2005. They give increased rights of public access to a wide range of information held by public bodies, including environmental information.
This page explains how you can get access to information we hold.
Published Information
The following are available through our web site and also upon request.
The DCLG FOI Publication Scheme.
We are an agency of The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). We use the same publication scheme.
Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires all public authorities to make information available through a Publication Scheme.We are not considered a public body in our own right within the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Therefore the scope of information we hold is included in the publication scheme produced by our parent Department, The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
The scheme does not list individual documents but lists the published information by category that is available from DCLG, the regional offices of the DCLG, and us. The publication scheme also makes it clear whether the information is available free of charge or on payment. We will take all reasonable steps to make the material available for people who need information in alternative formats.
How we implement the DCLG Publication Scheme.
We aim to make as much information as possible available on line through our web site(s). The way in which we operate the scheme means in the first instance please consult our web site(s) for information you require. If you cannot find what you want then access the DCLG Publication scheme to see if it is listed. Information included in the Scheme will be made available, either on the DCLG website, or through the DCLG contact points or other providers (subject to their agreement) as indicated. The DCLG website and ours also includes information that is not routinely published and is not covered by the Scheme but is made available nonetheless.
If you cannot find what you want either on the website or through this Scheme you may consider whether you wish to make an access request under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulations which came into force on the 1 January 2005. Access requests should be directed to us The Planning Inspectorate, The DCLG, DCLG Government Offices, or Agency contact points listed in the scheme. Please provide as much detail as possible to help us identify the information you require so we can help you with your request.
Publications/Forms
The DCLG and we publish a number of publications and forms on our web sites and you can browse and search for them. There is a charge for some publications although there is no charge for online publications made available through our web sites.
News, Announcements, Press Releases
Recently released information is made available on our web site. Where necessary we will direct you to a related web site for further information.
Information Asset Register (IAR)
The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) has grown out of Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO). OPSI has a broad remit to advise on and regulate the operation of the re-use of public sector information, including the use of Information Asset Registers (IARs) in Government. "Inforoute" is a service provided by OPSI that provides direct access to the Government’s Information Asset Register (IAR). The IAR lists information resources held by the UK Government, concentrating on unpublished resources. In doing so it enables users to identify, from one single source, the information held in a wide variety of government departments, agencies and other organisations. OPSI work with departments to help them develop their IARs further and co-ordinating our work with Freedom of Information (FOI) Publications Schemes. As departments identify information to be published through their FOI Publication Schemes, so unpublished information can also be identified for inclusion in the IAR.
The IAR aims to cover the vast quantities of information held by all government departments and agencies. This includes databases, old sets of files, recent electronic files, collections of statistics, research etc. The IAR concentrates on information resources that have not yet been, or will not be formally published due to their structure or nature. Inforoute is a key part of the Government’s agenda for freeing up access to official information and the information will be considered for release on request.
Inforoute links to other sources of official information and lists of official publications (e.g. Directgov, UKOP and The Stationery Office). For more information about Info route and IARs go to the OPSI website
Information Released
Where responses to requests for information are judged to be in the wider public interest, we will publish the response on our website. Visit our Information Released page to view the responses.
Requesting Information
With limited exceptions we are required to answer your requests within 20 working days of receipt. The clearer your request is the easier it is for us to help you. If your request is not clear we will contact you to clarify what information it is you are requesting.
We may withhold certain information from release where we are required to by law. This is often called exemption from release under FOI or exception from release under EIR. Guidance and information about what can and cannot be released under the FOI or EIR legislation is available from the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA)
Freedom of Information (FOI)
You must make a request in writing.
You can make a request by letter, email or fax.
Environmental Information
Unlike an FOI request you can make a request for environmental information orally.
You can also make a written request including email or fax.
Personal Data
Requests for personal information we may hold about you must be made in writing. You must complete a form made available on request and supply two forms of identification.For further information about personal data see our online privacy statement.
Inspection of information - Temple Quay House in Bristol or Cathay's Park Office in Cardiff
The planning process involves a lot of information made readily available on line, by us or by local authorities and at local inquiries.If you do need to visit our offices to view information we hold please contact us to make an appointment so we make arrangements with you. For information about how to find us see visiting us.
Information Requests and Privacy
In the course of making an information request you may provide limited personal data to us, including your name, address or other contact details. This will be required by us to help you obtain the information you need. We will also retain and use this information to help us identify general, or specific trends in information requests to help us improve our services to you. Your personal data will not be made available to others or used for other purposes.
Please see our online Privacy Statement for other information about data protection policy in The Planning Inspectorate, including how to use our our subject access procedures to request information about any personal data that we may hold on you.
Information Access Complaints and Appeals
We aim to help you. If you do need to make a complaint about the way in which we handled your request or you wish to make an appeal against our refusal to release information see our Information Access Complaints and Appeals procedure link in pdf format 
36kb.
For all enquiries about our information access and privacy policies and those on planning casework.
Please refer to our agency information page.
Useful Addresses
HMSO
For further information about access to information rights use the following contacts:
Freedom of Information
For guidance and procedures from the Department of Constitutional Affairs
Environmental Information
For environmental information matters please contact Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) at www.defra.gov.uk
To read more about regulations go to Environmental Information
Personal Information and Privacy Rights
The Information Commissioner: www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Planning Inspectorate
The Planning Inspectorate
Customer Service Team
Room 3/01 Kite Wing
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Temple Quay
Bristol
BS1 6PN
Phone:0117 372 6372
Fax: 0117 372 8782
Email:enquiries@planning-inspectorate.gsi.gov.uk
www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk
How to view PDF documents
PDF files can be viewed using Adobe's Acrobat Reader. You can download Acrobat Reader free of charge from the Adobe website. Visit Access Adobe to find out how people with visual disabilities can get the most from this software.
