There has been some confusion about different types of Planning Appeals.
An appeal can be made to the Planning Inspectorate if the District Council – Cherwell (in our case) – refuses a planning application.
The appeal has to be made by the applicant within a certain timescale:
- Householder applications and Minor Commercial need to be within 12 weeks of the date of the decision
- All other types of planning applications (including larger developments), must be within 6 months of the date of the decision.
A Planning Inspector will be appointed.
There are then three types of methods of consideration:
- Written Representations (most appeals are decided this way including all householder applications)
- Hearings
- Inquiries
Householder appeals are generally heard by written representation (but this may also include a site visit by the Planning Inspector), with other larger developments being considered by hearing or inquiry, though sometimes new housing developments are considered by written representation, e.g. recent appeals at Fringford (10 houses) and Finmere (25), and a current one at Deddington (15).
The Blackthorn Road, Mulberry Homes, appeal was heard at an Inquiry and was an adversarial discussion with barrister representation.
It is thought that the Great Wolf Water Park in Chesterton will also be heard at an Inquiry.
More information can be found on the Government’s site: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/appeals#appeals-against-refusal-of-planning-permission