Planning Appeals (Hansard, 17 May 1972)

§ 34. Mr. Ronald Bell
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is at present the average period that elapses between the receipt by his Department of an appeal against the decision of a local planning authority and the public local inquiry into that appeal, and the average period between public local inquiry and notification of the Secretary of State's decision; and how these average periods compare with similar periods in 1970.
Mr. Graham Page: 27 and 15 weeks, respectively. In April, 1970, the com-

Method of Appeal Numbers Average time taken between receipt of notice of Appeal and decision (weeks)

1. To Secretary of State:

(a) by public inquiry … 1,506 45

(b) by written representation … 671 41

2. As a transferred case to an Inspector:

(a) by public inquiry … 1,455 30

(b) by written representation … 2,223 32

A. Appeals decided during 12 months to 30th April, 1972 … 5,855 36

B. Appeals outstanding on 30th April, 1971 … 6,167 —

C. Notices of appeal received 1st May, 1971 to 30th April, 1972 … 10,794 —

D. Appeals withdrawn 1st May, 1971 to 30th April, 1972 … 2,935 —

E. Appeals outstanding on 30th April, 1972 … 8,171 —

Notes:

(1) Notice of appeal may be made at any time within 6 months of the LPA's decision.

(2) A substantial amount of the average time for 1(a) and 2(a) is attributable to postponement of hearings at the request of the parties.

(3) Notices of appeal received in 1971–72 (letter C) show an increase of 29 per cent. on the 1970–71 figure which was 8,372.

(4) The average times were adversely affected by the consequences of the postal strike, particularly those relating to cases dealt with by written representations.

§ Mr. Arthur Lewis
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the planning appeal procedure was first commenced in the case of Mr. C. G. Hardy and Mrs. B. E. Hardy (Ref.: T/APP/ 2226/A 61131); and when the appeal decision was made and notified to the appellants.

§ Mr. Graham Page
Notice of Appeal was received on 26th November, 1971 and the appellant's statement having been
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parable periods were 26 weeks and 16 weeks.

§ 80. Mr. Arthur Lewis
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average time taken for appeals to be heard and decisions given under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962.

§ Mr. Graham Page
36 weeks for appeals decided in the year ended 30th April, 1972.

§ Mr. Sydney Chapman
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the estimated average time between the refusals of planning applications by local planning authorities and the subsequent decisions by him of those determined by public inquiries on appeal during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

§ Mr. Graham Page
The following is an analysis of planning appeals dealt with in the 12 months ended 30th April, 1972:
delivered to my Department on 1st February, 1972, the decision was notified to the appellants on 4th May, 1972.

§ Mr. Arthur Lewis
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the planning appeal procedure was first commenced in the case of Mr. Jack Swift, details of which have been supplied to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North; and when the appeal decision was made and notified to the appellant.
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§ Mr. Peter Walker
The appeal was received on 28th May, 1971 and an inquiry was held on 6th January, 1972. The inspector's report, which has been delayed by illness, shows that there are difficult issues. But I hope a decision can be made before long.

Method of Appeal	Numbers	Average time taken between receipt of notice of Appeal and decision (weeks)
1. To Secretary of State:
(a) by public inquiry	…	1,506	45
(b) by written representation	…	671	41
2. As a transferred case to an Inspector:
(a) by public inquiry	…	1,455	30
(b) by written representation	…	2,223	32
A. Appeals decided during 12 months to 30th April, 1972	…	5,855	36
B. Appeals outstanding on 30th April, 1971	…	6,167	—
C. Notices of appeal received 1st May, 1971 to 30th April, 1972	…	10,794	—
D. Appeals withdrawn 1st May, 1971 to 30th April, 1972	…	2,935	—
E. Appeals outstanding on 30th April, 1972	…	8,171	—
Notes:
(1) Notice of appeal may be made at any time within 6 months of the LPA's decision.
(2) A substantial amount of the average time for 1(a) and 2(a) is attributable to postponement of hearings at the request of the parties.
(3) Notices of appeal received in 1971–72 (letter C) show an increase of 29 per cent. on the 1970–71 figure which was 8,372.
(4) The average times were adversely affected by the consequences of the postal strike, particularly those relating to cases dealt with by written representations.