Should you appeal or reapply after a planning refusal?
You should not rush to appeal. That has always been good advice, and since the appeal rules changed in April 2026 it has become even more important. The right choice between appealing and submitting a fresh application now depends almost entirely on the application you submitted, because for most applications made since April 2026 an […]
How do you write grounds of appeal in 250 words?
The appeal form gives you a box of around 250 words to explain why the council got it wrong. For most appeals against a refusal of planning permission, that box is now the whole argument under the new appeal rules. No statement follows it, and the inspector decides the case on your grounds and the […]
How does a planning appeal work under the new rules?
Most planning appeals in England are now decided without an appeal statement. The Planning Inspectorate calls the new system the Part One written representations procedure, and it applies to most planning applications submitted on or after 1 April 2026. If your refusal falls within it, your appeal will be decided almost entirely on the papers […]
How to write a planning appeal statement – and when you still need one
Why you may not need an appeal statement at all Since 1 April 2026, most planning appeals in England no longer involve an appeal statement at all. Appeals against a refusal of planning permission – along with conditions appeals, prior approval refusals and most other appeals under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning […]
Planning enforcement in Havering: London’s third-busiest enforcement authority
The Planning Inspectorate decided 45 enforcement appeals against Havering in the year to March 2026, making it the third-busiest London borough for enforcement after Brent and Barnet. Around 29% of those appeals were quashed or granted permission — a success rate well above the English average. The council’s enforcement team receives more than 800 complaints […]
The seven grounds of appeal against an enforcement notice
If you have received a planning enforcement notice, you have the right to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate under section 174 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Enforcement appeals follow a particular format. You cannot simply write in to the inspectorate to say that the council has been unfair, that your neighbour has […]
What is a Planning Contravention Notice?
If your council suspects that something has been built or changed at your property without planning permission, they have a number of tools available to them. One of the first formal steps they may take is to serve a Planning Contravention Notice — commonly known as a PCN. What it is A PCN is not […]
HMO Article 4 directions explained
HMO Article 4 directions explained Many landlords first come across Article 4 directions when they are told that planning permission is required for a HMO, even though they understand that changes of use are normally permitted development. This can come as a surprise. In some cases, landlords only discover that an Article 4 direction applies […]
Planning permission for HMOs
Planning permission for HMOs Many landlords assume that converting a house into a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is straightforward. Sometimes it is. But in many areas planning permission is now required, and councils often resist new HMOs. That does not necessarily mean permission cannot be obtained. In practice, a significant number of HMO refusals […]
HMO planning appeals in Northampton
HMO planning appeals in Northampton West Northamptonshire Council has introduced an Article 4 direction across much of Northampton removing permitted development rights for the conversion of houses into smaller houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Normally, converting a house into a small HMO (Use Class C4) can be carried out without planning permission. The Article 4 […]