Planning Inspectorate issues revised guidance on Statements of Common Ground

The Planning Inspectorate has updated its guidance on preparing Statements of Common Ground (SoCGs) used in appeals of council planning decisions.

The revised guidance aims to improve the efficiency of the appeals process by assisting all professional representatives and expert witnesses in compliance with their duty to assist the inspector.

It applies to SoCGs prepared for appeals under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, including all appeals determined by inquiry or hearing.

Key features of the revised guidance include a detailed explanation of legislative requirements and relevant procedure rules, the introduction of ‘topic-specific SoCGs’ to supplement the main SoCG, and clear timelines for submitting SoCGs, emphasising the importance of meeting deadlines.

It also provides guidance on collaboration between parties, including potential involvement of Rule 6 (interested) parties, and sets out recommendations for format and presentation, encouraging the use of searchable documents, tables, and diagrams.

In addition, the guidance emphasises the legal weight of SoCGs and the potential consequences of unreasonable conduct.

The guidance was developed in conjunction with the Planning & Environment Bar Association (PEBA).

The Planning Inspectorate and PEBA have also jointly produced a SoCG template, which can be used as a guide to developing an effective SoCG and can be useful in clearly identifying the points of difference between the parties’ positions.

Adam Carey