Refused Planning Permission? Householder Appeals Explained

Twelve weeks from the date on the decision notice if the householder application was refused. The Planning Inspectorate will not accept a late appeal. An enforcement notice on the same development can shorten that limit to 28 days. An appeal against conditions, or against non-determination, is six months.

Only the applicant. Neighbours cannot appeal a grant or a refusal. On most appeals for applications made on or after 1 April 2026 they also cannot send new comments at the appeal stage; comments they made on the application are passed to the Inspector.

If the application was made on or after 1 April 2026, most householder appeals use the part 1 written representations procedure. The Inspector decides the scheme the council already saw. Do not add new drawings or reports at the appeal stage. There is no fee.

It depends on the reasons for refusal. Appeal where you believe policy was misapplied; revise and resubmit where the refusal points to a fixable design problem, which is often quicker than an appeal on the same scheme. A resubmission carries a fresh application fee — the former fee-free resubmission was withdrawn in England in December 2023.

There is no fee to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. Your own costs are in preparing the case; the application fee is not charged again on appeal.

No. Only the applicant has a right of appeal. On most appeals for applications made on or after 1 April 2026, neighbours also cannot send new comments at the appeal stage. Comments they made on the application are passed to the Inspector. A court challenge by judicial review is a separate and limited route, not a planning appeal.