How to appeal

Appeal to the Planning Inspectorate

If your planning application has been refused, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.  

Only the applicant or their agent can submit an appeal, there is no right of appeal for neighbours or consultees.

There are a number of situations where it is possible to submit an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate: 

  • appealing against a refused planning application - If your application has been refused and you don't agree with the reasons for refusal
  • appealing against a planning condition - If you disagree with a condition that has been placed on your decision notice
  • you haven't received a decision within the statutory timeframe - If you haven't received a decision in writing, and haven't agreed to extend the decision period

Typically decisions should be made:

  • within 12 weeks for householder applications or minor shop fronts  
  • within 6 months for other application types.  

More information is available from the Planning Inspectorate website. 

How to make an appeal

Appeals must be made to the Planning Inspectorate once you have prepared the following documents:

  • a copy of the original application
  • a copy of the site ownership certificate
  • a copy of the local planning authority’s decision notice (if they didn’t issue one then send a copy of your acknowledgement letter)  
  • a map of the surrounding area
  • copies of all plans, drawings and documents you submitted with your original application
  • any other documents or information you feel directly supports your appeal, such as your  full statement of the case 

You can submit your documents online to the Planning Inspectorate or post them to  

The Planning Inspectorate, Room 3/13, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN  

An additional copy of the appeal must be sent to us. This can be emailed to appeals@eastcambs.gov.uk 

Appeal timescales

The Planning Inspectorate will check your appeal to make sure it’s valid.  

They will tell you what happens next and how long your appeal may take. The appeal process can vary depending on the type of appeal being made. You will normally get a decision within 19 weeks, but it can take longer. 

The government regularly publishes the latest average timescales for planning, enforcement and householder appeals, details of which can be found on GOV.UK appeals: how long they take.

Costs relating to appeals  

You can apply for an ‘award of costs’ if anyone involved in your appeal has cost you money by behaving unreasonably, for example if deadlines have been missed

You can be asked to pay costs if you behave unreasonably during your own appeal.  The Planning Inspectorate can do this even if no-one is claiming costs against you.  

Commenting on an appeal

If you commented on the original application, we will notify you if an appeal is made.  

Anyone can comment on an appeal and the deadline for comments is 5 weeks after the start of the appeal, or 6 weeks in the case of enforcement notices.  

More information is available from the Planning Inspectorate guide ‘Taking part in an appeal’  

Challenging appeal decisions

You can challenge the decision in the High Court if you think the Planning Inspectorate made a legal mistake.  

You should seek independent legal advice if you believe this to be the case.