The Government has announced significant reforms to the planning appeals process under the written representations procedure, set to take effect by the end of 2025. These changes aim to streamline the system by restricting appeal evidence to what was originally submitted with the planning application.
What’s Changing?
Under the new rules:
- No new evidence or arguments can be introduced at the appeal stage for most written representation cases.
- The goal is to accelerate decision-making and reduce administrative burdens.
While this may improve efficiency, it also places greater importance on the quality and completeness of the original planning application.
What This Means for You
To adapt to these changes, we strongly recommend that applicants:
- Engage early: Initiate pre-application discussions with your local planning authority to identify and resolve potential issues.
- Submit robust applications: Include all relevant technical reports, assessments, and justifications from the outset.
- Think ahead: Prepare your application as if it may be appealed—make it “appeal-ready” from day one.
By front-loading the process and investing in thorough preparation, applicants will be better positioned to secure planning permission—or to succeed on appeal—under the new regime.
If you have questions about how these changes might impact your projects, or if you’d like assistance with pre-application enquiries or preparing a planning application, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
