§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals were received in 1979 and 1980 against planning refusals by local planning authorities; how many of these appeals were conducted under the written procedure; in how many cases dealt with under the written procedure the local authority decision was reversed; and what is the statutory basis of the written procedure of planning appeals.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe information requested is below.
1979 1980 Appeals received 12,990 16,208 Appeals decided by the written method 6,334 10,344 Writtern appeals where the LPA decision was reversed 1,683 2,989 27 per cent 29 per cent There is no direct relationship between the number of appeals decided and received; because of withdrawals and the time lapse.
The written representations procedure has no statutory basis, but is a well-established and straightforward method which enables many less controversial appeals to proceed quickly.