Performance update - September 2023
Performance and other updates following the publication of our latest official monthly statistics.
On a monthly basis, we publish the latest official statistics on appeals performance, which represent the greatest volume (in terms of number of cases) of the work of the Planning Inspectorate.
We also update the appeals handling times data to give customers the latest information on the average time it takes to receive a decision and provide an update on our other main casework areas.
Appeals
Our appeal cases are dealt with in one of three ways: written representations, hearings, or inquiries. Ministerial performance measures include an expectation to reduce average decision times over time and make our decision speeds more consistent. All our decision times are measured from the day we receive a valid appeal through to the day we issue a decision. This is the same approach Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) use for application times.
We continue to reduce our caseload and at the end of August we had 14,312 cases open after having closed 128 more cases than we received. We received 1,548 cases and closed 1,676.
The number of events held in August was 1,592, the most held in a month since January and more than the 12-month average of 1,410 a month.
Median decision times
The median decision time for cases decided in August 2023 was 31 weeks, a reduction since July which was 33 weeks.
We have been focusing in recent months on making decision times more consistent for appeals decided by written representations. They account for the large majority of decisions over the past 12 months (16,448 decisions equates to around 92% of all appeal decisions made).
The current phase of this work includes deciding more than a thousand older appeals, which will lead to a temporary increase in average decision times. The average decision times for planning written appeals in August was 29 weeks.
We encourage LPAs and appellants to work closely to resolve issues locally and reduce pressure on the appeals service. This will help us provide a better service.
The average time for enforcement inquiry decisions was high in August due to only three decisions being made, and them being amongst the older cases we are gradually deciding.
| 12 months to August 2023 median decision time | August 2023 median decision time | |
|---|---|---|
| Planning appeals by written representations | 28 weeks | 29 weeks |
| Planning appeals by hearing | 32 weeks | 26 weeks |
| Planning appeals by inquiry | 30 weeks | 25 weeks |
| Enforcement appeals by written representations | 51 weeks | 49 weeks |
| Enforcement appeals by hearing | 68 weeks | 58 weeks |
| Enforcement appeals by inquiry | 82 weeks | 146 weeks |
| All appeals | 30 weeks | 31 weeks |
National Infrastructure
The number of applications has started to rise but we continue to meet all statutory deadlines.
We have a high number of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) at various stages:
- 74 where we are providing advice before submission
- 17 submitted and at acceptance, pre-examination, or examination
- 4 where we are preparing our recommendation
- 7 where the relevant Secretary of State is considering our recommendation
The continuous work to examine NSIPs is key to the economic growth of the country. Just yesterday (Sep 20) the Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm application was granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero following an examination by inspectors.
Local Plans
There are currently 49 live Local Plan examinations in progress.
We encourage Local Planning Authorities (LPA) to use our advisory visits to help them get their plans in good shape and deal with challenges well before submission.
There have been 16 Local Plan examination reports issued so far this year including Bexley, Calderdale, Epping Forest, Guildford and Wandsworth.