Planning Inspectorate Performance update – August 2024
Performance and other updates following the publication of our latest official monthly statistics.
On a monthly basis, we publish the latest official statistics on appeals performance, which represent the greatest volume (in terms of number of cases) of the work of the Planning Inspectorate.
We also update the appeals handling times data to give customers the latest information on the average time it takes to receive a decision and provide an update on our other main casework areas.
Appeals
Our appeal cases are dealt with in one of three ways: written representations, hearings, or inquiries. Ministerial performance measures include an expectation to reduce average decision times over time and make our decision speeds more consistent. All our decision times are measured from the day we receive a valid appeal through to the day we issue a decision. This is the same approach as Local Planning Authorities.
We have made 18,424 appeal decisions in the last 12 months, an average of 1,535 per month. The number of decisions in July 2024 was 1,678.
We closed 1,866 cases in July. That is 155 more cases than we received and is highest amount closed in a month for the last 12 months. We now have 13,320 open cases.
We remain committed to removing our casework backlog so that all our casework is decided in consistent timeframes, whilst maintaining high standards in our decisions.
Consultation
We have today begun a consultation on changing the frequency of the publication of our performance statistics from monthly to quarterly.
We remain committed to being transparent and providing statistics of high quality and value, but we believe quarterly publications will provide a better and more accurate indicator of performance, less affected by temporary fluctuations than monthly releases.
The consultation also asks for views on a proposal to stop publishing our annual Staff Diversity Official Statistics. The statistics are not part of statutory reporting requirements, and our research shows these statistics are very seldom accessed, leading us to believe we could better deploy our resources and provide better value for our customers.
The consultation is open until September 19. Full details are available on our consultation page.
Median decision times
The median decision time for cases decided in July was 26 weeks. The average over the past 12 months was 29 weeks.
| 12 months to July 2024 median decision time | July 2024 median decision time | |
|---|---|---|
| Planning appeals by written representations | 27 weeks | 25 weeks |
| Planning appeals by hearing | 25 weeks | 23 weeks |
| Planning appeals by inquiry | 31 weeks | 31 weeks |
| Enforcement appeals by written representations | 51 weeks | 55 weeks |
| Enforcement appeals by hearing | 66 weeks | 67 weeks |
| Enforcement appeals by inquiry | 66 weeks | 31 weeks |
| All appeals | 29 weeks | 26 weeks |
National Infrastructure
We have a high number of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) at various stages, but we continue to meet all statutory deadlines:
- 71 where we are providing advice before submission.
- 20 submitted and at acceptance, pre-examination, or examination.
- 2 where we are preparing our recommendation.
- 11 where the relevant Secretary of State is considering our recommendation.
We have recently published a set of updated advice pages for applicants and others about a range of operational matters under the Planning Act 2008. This advice complements and reflects recent updates to government guidance (published in April) about the infrastructure planning system.
Local Plans
There are currently 50 live Local Plan examinations in progress.
Examinations opened in June and July for Leicester, Lewisham, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Norfolk Minerals and Waste, Richmond upon Thames, and Sheffield.
We encourage Local Planning Authorities (LPA) to use our advisory visits to help them get their plans in good shape and deal with challenges well before submission.