Welsh Government consults on shake-up of planning appeals regime

The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on simplifying the planning appeals system in a bid to bring cost and time savings.

The proposals “will also ensure that the procedures can deal with appeals of differing complexities", it said.

The main changes on which views are being sought are:

• introducing a simpler, fast track system for householder appeals
• enabling the Planning Inspectorate to decide the appeal method for each case, based on Ministerially approved and published criteria
• extending the power to apply for costs to be awarded to appeals dealt with by written representations
• making it easier to correct errors in appeal decisions
• giving inspectors authority to determine appeals for old minerals permissions
• changing payment arrangements of enforcement application fees when appeals are lodged so that the entire fee is paid to the local planning authority
• requiring that Statements of Common Ground are submitted earlier in the appeals process, and
• introducing a formal process and guidance for undertaking bespoke time tables for complex inquiries.

The consultation paper said the changes were designed to make the appeal process “more proportionate, cost effective and responsive to customers’ needs”.

The consultation, which can be downloaded here, lasts until 17 November 2011.