If Hillingdon Council has refused your planning application, that decision isn’t final. Our chartered planning consultants specialise in planning appeals and enforcement matters, helping to overturn unfair refusals across Hillingdon, with recent successes in Uxbridge, Ruislip, Hayes, Ickenham and Northwood.
Just Planning regularly advises homeowners and developers on planning appeals and enforcement problems in Hillingdon. It is one of our busiest council areas, with dozens of appeals submitted each year.
We are familiar with the way the council’s policies, how it assesses planning applications, the types of concerns raised in officer reports and how those issues are examined by inspectors at appeal.
When planning permission is refused for extensions in Hillingdon, the reasons often relate to the size of the proposal and its relationship with neighbouring properties. The planners focus on matters such as bulk, spacing between buildings and how an extension is said to affect the streetscene.
The council is also quick to refuse applications for infill development, including new dwellings proposed to the side or rear of existing houses. These cases often turn on judgements about character, spacing and the effect of additional development within established residential areas.
Some of the council’s refusals are justified, but others are unfair. At appeal, the decision is reviewed by an independent inspector appointed by the government. If you are refused planning permission, it is always worth considering an appeal.
We have written in more detail about why planning applications for extensions are often refused in Hillingdon, drawing on our recent experience of applications and appeals.
We submit dozens of appeals in Hillingdon each year and we 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 understand of how issues are examined by inspectors at appeal, helping us to present cases clearly and realistically, giving our clients the best possible chances of success.
Hillingdon has been one of our busiest councils ever since Just Planning was founded in 2014. We advise on all types of development in the borough, including householder extensions, infill dwellings and commercial projects. We also help clients with enforcement investigations and appeals.
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 inside experience to every case we work on.
We will 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.
We handle dozens of applications and appeals in Hillingdon each year. Here is a selection of some recent successes.
If the council has refused planning permission for an extension, you will usually have the right to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, provided the appeal is submitted within the relevant time limit. We can review the decision notice and confirm whether an appeal is available and whether it is likely to be worth pursuing.
Most householder planning appeals are decided within a few months. The exact timescale can vary depending on the type of appeal and the information involved, but many are dealt with through written representations and do not require a hearing.
No. Once an appeal is submitted, it is handled by the Planning Inspectorate rather than the council. We manage the appeal process on your behalf and deal with the correspondence, keeping you informed as the appeal progresses.
That depends on the reasons for refusal and the specific circumstances of the proposal. Some refusals are based on concerns that can be addressed effectively at appeal, while others are more difficult to overcome. We aim to give clear and honest advice at the outset so you can decide whether an appeal is a sensible next step.
For more information, check out our article on whether it is worth appealing planning refusals in Hillingdon.
We will usually ask to see the decision notice, the approved plans and drawings, and any relevant correspondence with the council. In most cases, this is enough to provide an initial view on the strength of an appeal.
If the council has issued an enforcement notice relating to an extension or other development, you have a right of appeal. Enforcement appeals are subject to strict time limits, so it is important to seek advice promptly. We can review the notice and explain the available options.
We have written a separate article on enforcement appeals in Hillingdon. For more general advice, check out our enforcement page.
Our fees for planning appeals are fixed and agreed in advance, so you know exactly what the cost will be before any work starts.
The fee will depend on the type of appeal and the complexity of the issues involved. Most householder appeals, including extensions and alterations to single dwellings, fall within a range of £1,000 to £1,500 plus VAT. More complex cases, such as those involving multiple refusal reasons or planning enforcement action, may require a higher level of input.
Before proceeding, we will review the decision notice or enforcement notice, explain the likely scope of work, and confirm the fee in writing. If you’re unsure whether an appeal is worth pursuing, we’re happy to give an initial view before you commit.
In some circumstances, it is possible to apply for an award of costs following a planning appeal. However, costs are not awarded simply because an appeal is successful.
An award of costs is only made where one party has behaved unreasonably and that behaviour has caused unnecessary expense. In the context of a planning appeal, this might include situations where the council’s reasons for refusal are not supported by evidence, or where it has failed to deal properly with a revised proposal.
Costs applications are considered separately from the planning merits of the appeal, and the threshold is relatively high. As a result, awards of costs are the exception rather than the norm.
If an appeal is being pursued, we can advise on whether a costs application may be appropriate based on the council’s decision and the way the case has been handled.
For more information costs awards, check out our article here.
Talk to an expert
If your planning application has been refused, don’t give up! Our chartered planning consultants specialise in overturning unfair planning decisions – quickly, professionally and with a strong chance of success.
Send us your decision notice and we’ll review it for free, explain your chances at appeal and outline the next steps. We never take on a case we don’t think we can win.
If you prefer to email, we can be reached at info@just-planning.co.uk.
