Performance update – October 2022

Planning Inspectorate statistical release 20 October 2022

In summary:

Appeals

• Our appeal cases are dealt with in one of three ways; written representations, hearings, or inquiries. New Ministerial performance measures were announced earlier this year including an expectation to reduce average decision times over time. Since April we have been holding hearings for planning appeals much sooner and those appeals are now being decided between 24 and 26 weeks. This is about half the time they were taking previously.

• While we are still working through previously submitted hearings cases the average across all hearings cases will remain higher for a period of time.

• Decisions on appeals dealt with by hearing saw the fastest monthly median of the past 12 months in September (44 weeks) and inquiries the second fastest in the 12 months (36 weeks). Across all our appeal cases, the median time to decide a case in September 2022 was 29 weeks. This is the longest in the last 12 months and is driven by longer decision times for the appeals decided by written representation. Our next area of focus will be to start improving times for these cases.

• The overall number of open cases at the end of September was 14,260. We received 1,636 new cases in September and closed 1,358 (including withdrawn cases)

• In more than 30 Local Planning Authorities (LPA) across the country appeals are now being submitted using our new digital service using a new process aimed at making the service easier, faster and more cost-effective. Building on a smaller pilot earlier this year, the ‘beta’ process has introduced a more intuitive appeal submission process and new LPAs will be added to the service in the coming months

Local Plans

• There are currently 60 live Local Plan examinations in progress. Local Plans help to protect communities from speculative or unwanted proposals. 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.

• We completed the examinations of two Local Plans in September and have completed three so far in October. Our final report on each has been issued to the relevant LPA so they can decide how to finalise and adopt their plan.

National Infrastructure

• We have a high number of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) at various stages. They include 68 national infrastructure schemes where we are providing advice before submission, 14 applications being considered by us and 11 applications where we have completed our recommendations and the Secretary of State’s decision is awaited. Those 11 include:

1. Boston Alternative Energy Facility, which involves constructing of a 102MWe energy from waste facility
2. A1 in Northumberland, which will provide thirteen miles of upgrades to dual the carriageway linking Morpeth and Alnwick bypasses with the dual carriageway near Ellingham, to create a continuous dual carriageway from Newcastle to Ellingham.
3. Keadby 3 Carbon Capture Power Station, combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station with a capacity of up to 910 megawatts electrical output (gross), carbon capture and compression plant, electrical, gas, and cooling water connections.

• We continue to meet the statutory deadlines for infrastructure applications as part of continuing to focus on casework with the most community interest and those key to supporting the nation’s economic growth.

• Earlier this month the application to improve the interchange between the A47 and A11 Thickthorn Junction was given development consent by the Secretary of State for Transport. It followed an examination during which the public, statutory consultees and other interested parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the Planning Inspectorate.