If your planning application has been refused by London Borough of Harrow, you should consider an appeal. Just Planning specialises in planning appeals and regularly acts for homeowners and small developers in Harrow.
Planning appeals are decided by a government-appointed inspector and involve a fresh assessment of the proposal. In many cases, inspectors take a more balanced view of design, scale and impact than the council did at application stage.
We have extensive experience of appealing Harrow decisions and advising clients realistically on whether an appeal is likely to succeed.
Harrow tends to take a cautious approach to householder development, particularly where proposals are said to affect the character of the area or neighbours’ amenities.
The council relies heavily on its Local Plan policies when assessing proposals and has more limited supplementary guidance than some neighbouring authorities. This can make decision-making less predictable, but it also means that refusals can be easier to challenge.
At appeal, inspectors will usually look closely at whether the council has properly demonstrated harm, and whether that harm is genuinely sufficient to justify refusal. Well-designed schemes, particularly modest extensions to existing dwellings, can perform much better at appeal than they did at application stage.
Just Planning provides specialist advice on planning appeals and refused planning applications in Harrow. We act for homeowners and small developers where permission has been refused and there is a realistic prospect of overturning the decision.
We regularly advise on householder appeals relating to rear extensions, side extensions and loft conversions, as well as small residential schemes such as new infill housing.
We provide clear, independent advice on the merits of an appeal, prepare a detailed appeal statement and manage the appeal process through to decision. We focus on the specific planning issues raised by the council, the relevant development plan policies and the way similar schemes have been treated at appeal.
We do not take on every case. Where an appeal is unlikely to succeed, we will say so at the outset and explain the reasons clearly.
We typically submit more appeals in Harrow each year that in any other council and are familiar with how the council typically approaches decisions on different types of development and how it frames its refusals. As appeal specialists, we also have a deep understanding of how issues are examined by inspectors at appeal, helping us to present cases clearly and realistically and give our clients the best possible chances of success.
Harrow has been one of our busiest councils for many years. We advise on all types of development in the borough, including householder extensions, infill dwellings and small residential schemes. We also help clients with enforcement investigations and appeals. We win most of the appeal we undertake in Harrow.
That experience helps us anticipate the council’s main concerns and prepare appeal statements that address them directly, focusing on the points that are most likely to matter to the inspector.
All of our consultants are chartered town planners with experience working in local council planning departments or with the Planning Inspectorate. We bring that inside experience to every case we work on.
We manage the appeal process on your behalf, from preparing the appeal submission through to responding to any further correspondence, allowing you to step back from what can otherwise be a time-consuming and stressful process.
Harrow is one of our busiest boroughs for planning and enforcement appeals. Here is a selection of our recent successes in the area.
Most householder planning appeals are decided within around four months, although timescales can vary depending on the type of appeal and how it is dealt with by the Planning Inspectorate. Enforcement appeals can take longer, particularly where multiple grounds of appeal are involved.
Yes. Appeals must generally be submitted within 12 weeks (for a householder appeal) or 6 months (for other appeals). Shorter time limits apply to some enforcement appeals, so it is important to seek advice as soon as possible after receiving a refusal or notice.
Most planning appeals in the London Borough of Harrow are decided by written representations and do not involve a hearing or inquiry. This means the appeal is determined based on written submissions rather than public meetings.
Minor amendments and clarifications can sometimes be included, but an appeal must generally be based on the scheme that was refused. If more significant changes are needed, a revised planning application may be a better option.
Every case turns on its own facts. Some refusals are well founded, while others are not. We will always give a clear and realistic view at the outset and will not recommend an appeal unless we consider there to be a reasonable prospect of success.
You are not required to use a consultant, but planning appeals involve policy interpretation, judgement and experience of how inspectors approach decisions. Professional representation can significantly improve the clarity and focus of an appeal.
Talk to an expert
If your planning application has been refused, contact us for some advice of what you should do next. Our planning consultants specialise in overturning unfair refusals – quickly, professionally, and with a high success rate.
Send us your refusal notice and we’ll review it for free, explain your chances at appeal, and outline the next steps clearly.
If you prefer to email, we can be reached at info@just-planning.co.uk.
