Planning Inspectorate to stop accepting comments on appeals via email in bid to “streamline” process

The Planning Inspectorate has said it will stop accepting comments on planning and enforcement appeals via email in order to streamline the process both for the inspectorate and local planning authorities.

From 1 April 2024, people wanting to share their views on planning and enforcement appeals will have to submit their comments through the Appeals Casework Portal (ACP).

The Planning Inspectorate said: "For many years we have worked with LPAs to encourage people to comment via the web-based ACP. However, we are still receiving many comments by email. 

"This is resulting in increased administration and, in common with local councils, we are keen to streamline our processes and focus our resources on activities that improve our services."

The inspectorate wrote to all local planning authorities on Friday (12 January) to ask for their help in ensuring residents commenting on planning and enforcement appeals are aware of the change.

The letter asked that councils remove any reference to the inspectorate's email addresses in their notification letters aimed at informing interested parties of planning appeals, as well as any press and site notices.

According to the inspectorate, the change will ensure personal data, such as email addresses, are not included on the response which reduces redaction requirements for local authorities when publishing public comments on their website.

The inspectorate said it will benefit from a simplification of its back-office processes, making the task of handling representations more efficient.

It also noted that comments from interested parties are less likely to be missed under the new process.

Any interested parties who do try to make a comment via email will be directed to the ACP from 1 April. 

"The email will not be seen by the Inspector handling the appeal," the Planning Inspectorate said, although it added that it would "continue to make provision for those with genuine accessibility needs".  

Adam Carey