A refusal of planning permission is not the end of the road. We are planning appeal specialists with particular experience in the London Borough of Barnet and a detailed understanding of how the council assesses applications and how unfair refusals can be challenged.
Planning refusals in Barnet are often not about clear breaches of policy. They are usually about how a proposal is judged to affect the street, the building or its surroundings. The council will say something looks out of character or causes harm, even where similar development already exists nearby.
These are exactly the types of decisions we deal with. We understand how the council tends to reason its refusals and how inspectors have tested those same arguments on appeal.
That understanding allows us to focus appeal statements on the issues that genuinely influence outcomes, rather than repeating the council’s concerns or arguing points that make no difference.
Barnet is one of London’s largest boroughs, with a wide range of suburban neighbourhoods and strong pressure for change. In practice, this often means the council takes a cautious approach and refuses applications it considers harmful to character, even where the impacts are limited. Many reasonable extensions, dormers and alterations are refused on weak grounds.
If your application has been rejected by the council, an appeal gives you a fair, independent second chance. Your case is reviewed by the Planning Inspectorate, not the council, and most householder appeals are decided through written representations, with no hearings required.
We have handled appeals across Barnet, including in areas such as Finchley, Hendon, Golders Green and Edgware, and are familiar with the policies and guidance the council relies on when making decisions.
Planning officers in Barnet are required to make judgement calls about design, character and impact. We have a strong understanding of how those judgements are reached and how inspectors assess them at appeal, which allows us to target the real issues in dispute.
We act on planning appeals in Barnet on a regular basis. This gives us a clear picture of the council’s common refusal reasons and how inspectors have responded to them in recent decisions.
All of our planning consultants are fully qualified, chartered town planners with direct experience of working within the planning system. This means we understand how decisions are made in practice and how they are examined and tested at appeal.
We submit a significant number of appeals in Barnet each year and also assist with planning applications and enforcement matters across the borough. Below is a selection of our recent appeal successes in Barnet.
Yes. If your planning application has been refused by the London Borough of Barnet, you usually have a right of appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. An appeal allows an independent inspector to reconsider the proposal and the council’s reasons for refusal.
For most householder planning applications, you must submit an appeal within 12 weeks of the decision date. It is important not to miss this deadline, as late appeals are not accepted.
Most householder appeals in Barnet are decided through written representations and typically take a few months. Timescales can vary depending on the type of appeal and the Planning Inspectorate’s workload.
It is generally not permitted to change your plans between the council’s decision and the appeal.
This depends on why the application was refused. If the refusal is judgement-based and the council is unlikely to change its view, an appeal may be the better option. If the issue is technical and easily resolved, a new application may be more appropriate. We can advise on the best route.
The Planning Inspectorate does not charge a fee for householder appeals. Your main cost is professional fees for preparing and managing the appeal. We explain fees clearly at the outset, once we have reviewed your case.
We charge fixed fees (so there are no surprises). A householder appeal typically costs between £1,000 and £2,000 plus VAT.
Most householder appeals in Barnet are decided by written representations only. This means there is no hearing or inquiry and no need for you to attend in person.
Every case is different. However, many refusals in Barnet are based on subjective judgements about design or character, which can be successfully challenged at appeal. We offer a free initial assessment to give you an honest view on prospects before you decide how to proceed.
We never take on a case that we don’t think we can win.
Talk to an expert
If your planning application has been refused, don’t leave the decision unchallenged. Our chartered planning consultants specialise in overturning unfair refusals quickly and professionally.
Send us your refusal notice and we’ll review it for free, explain your chances at appeal and set out the next steps clearly.
If you prefer to email, we can be reached at info@just-planning.co.uk.
