London borough first to pilot new householder appeals system set up by Planning Inspectorate

The London Borough of Barnet has become the first local authority to trial the Planning Inspectorate’s new beta service for householder appeals.

The Inspectorate said the pilot, which started last week, “marks a crucial step forward in enhancing our Appeals service, bringing us closer to a more efficient and user-friendly process for all stakeholders”.

It added that the pilot represents the culmination of its efforts to replace the “outdated” Appeals Casework Portal (ACP) with a modern, user-friendly GOV.UK service.

“It's designed to guide users more effectively through the entire appeals process, making it easier for all parties involved - from appellants to local planning authorities,” the Inspectorate said.

The new system has the following:

• streamlined portal: A new interface for local planning authorities (LPAs), appellants, and agents to manage multiple appeals, submit documentation, and view other parties’ submissions.
• automated notifications: Simplified, automated communications to keep all parties informed throughout the process.
• enhanced 'Make an Appeal' journey: Improvements based on user feedback, including clearer guidance for submitting complete and valid appeals.

The Planning Inspectorate said that following the pilot with the London Borough of Barnet, it plans to:

• carefully analyse feedback and data to ensure the service meets all requirements.
• gradually expand the pilot to include more local planning authorities.
• introduce s78 Planning Appeals to the new system in the coming year.

It added: “We're excited about this new chapter in our digital transformation journey and look forward to working with you to create a more efficient, user-friendly appeals process for everyone involved in the planning system.”