Publication scheme
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-28)

Our publication scheme sets out the different types of information we make available and how to obtain them. It follows the Information Commissioner’s model publication scheme.

Our publication scheme

The Planning Inspectorate is committed to making information available as part of our normal business activities whenever we can legally do so, except where we consider that an exemption to withhold information applies, according to an appropriate exemption/exception under either the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or Environmental Information Regulations 2004. We must also comply with the requirements of the data protection legislation and respect the privacy of individuals.

The Freedom of Information Act requires every public authority to have a publication scheme approved by the Information Commissioner’s Office, and to publish information covered by the scheme.

Who we are and what we do

The Planning Inspectorate deals with planning appeals, national infrastructure planning applications, examinations of local plans and other planning-related and specialist casework in England and Wales.

The Planning Inspectorate is an executive agency, sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-housing-communities-local-government).

You can find out more about what we do on our More about us (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/planning-inspectorate/about) page.

Planning Inspectorate Framework document - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-inspectorate-framework-document/planning-inspectorate-framework-document)

What we spend and how we spend it

Planning Inspectorate Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25 - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-inspectorate-annual-report-and-accounts-202425) notably includes:
- SCS (SCS2 and above + Board members) allowances and expenses,
- Financial Statements, budgets and variance reports,
- Capital Programme,
- Spending Review,
- Ex-gratia scheme,
- Financial statement for projects and events,
- Expenditure on consultancy and contingent labour in the annual report.
Procurement at Planning Inspectorate - Planning Inspectorate - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/planning-inspectorate/about/procurement)

Planning Inspectorate spending over £250 - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/planning-inspectorate-spending-over-250)

New contracts of £10,000 or more awarded or tendered since January 2011 can be found on Contracts Finder. (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder)

What our priorities are and how we are doing

Our Planning Inspectorate Business Plan 2025/26 - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-inspectorate-business-plan-202526/planning-inspectorate-business-plan-202526) sets out our vision, direction and strategic context.

The Planning Inspectorate Environmental Policy - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-planning-inspectorate-environmental-policy)

Research and statistics - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics?organisations%5B%5D=planning-inspectorate&page=1&parent=planning-inspectorate)

DLUHC’s gender pay gap report 2023 - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dluhc-gender-pay-gap-report-and-data-2023/dluhcs-gender-pay-gap-report-2023#annex-a--the-planning-inspectorate)

Planning Inspectorate Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25 - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-inspectorate-annual-report-and-accounts-202425) includes information on our Business Plan and Performance Analysis.

How we make decisions

Our governance - Planning Inspectorate - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/planning-inspectorate/about/our-governance)

Board meeting minutes - The Planning Inspectorate - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/board-meeting-minutes-the-planning-inspectorate)

Our policies and procedures

Social media use - Planning Inspectorate - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/planning-inspectorate/about/social-media-use)

Planning Inspectorate Customer Charter - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-inspectorate-customer-charter)

Planning Inspectorate: privacy notices - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-inspectorate-privacy-notices)

Complaints procedure - Planning Inspectorate - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/planning-inspectorate/about/complaints-procedure)

Guidance and regulation - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/search/guidance-and-regulation?organisations%5b%5d=planning-inspectorate&parent=planning-inspectorate)

Nationally significant infrastructure projects: application fees - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects-application-fees)

Recruitment & Selection Privacy Notice - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-inspectorate-privacy-notices/recruitment-selection-privacy-notice)

Requests are commonly made for our Inspector Training Manual (ITM). As the guidance it contains is often superseded as legislation changes, we do not publish the ITM. However, dated copies are available upon request.

Please note, the ITM is subject to regular updates, and the Manual does not constitute Government policy or guidance and does not seek to interpret Government policy. In the event that there appears to be a discrepancy between the Manual and national policy / guidance, any national policy and guidance will be conclusive.

As this document is not written for an external audience, many of the hyperlinks point to our internal systems at the Inspectorate (including links from one chapter to another) and therefore will not be accessible to those outside.

Please contact the Customer Team to obtain a copy at https://contact-us.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/hc/en-gb/requests/new.

The Services We Offer

Services - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/search/services?organisations%5b%5d=planning-inspectorate&parent=planning-inspectorate)

Guidance and regulation - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/search/guidance-and-regulation?organisations%5b%5d=planning-inspectorate&parent=planning-inspectorate)

Process guide - The process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) (https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/decision-making-process-guide)

Procedure Guide for Local Plan Examinations - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/examining-local-plans-procedural-practice)

Lists and registers

Planning Inspectorate Casework Database - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-inspectorate-appeals-database)

Register of applications (https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/register-of-applications)

National Infrastructure Projects - Welsh/ Prosiectau - Cynllunio Seilwaith Cenedlaethol (https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/cy/projects/)

Register of advice (https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/register-of-advice)

Register of advice - Welsh/ Cofrestr cyngor - Cynllunio Seilwaith Cenedlaethol (https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/cy/legislation-and-advice/register-of-advice/)

Register of Planning Inspectorate Board Member Interests - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-planning-inspectorate-board-member-interests)

Planning Inspectorate Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25 - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-inspectorate-annual-report-and-accounts-202425) - includes our Risk Management, Asset and Information Asset Register.

Planning Inspectorate · GitHub (https://github.com/Planning-Inspectorate)

Charges

We want to make as much information available at the lowest cost to the public. Any material published and accessed on our website is free.

However, where we consider it is reasonable, and in accordance with relevant legislation to do so, we may make a charge for staff time and/or disbursements (photocopying, printing, postage) and will advise you of this before information is provided.

Disclosure Log

The Planning Inspectorate’s Transparency and freedom of information releases - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases?content_store_document_type=foi_release&organisations%5B%5D=planning-inspectorate) provides information on how we respond to statistical requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

Quarterly information rights performance statistics reports - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/quarterly-information-rights-performance-statistics-reports) - discloses quarterly statistics on our performance in responding to information rights requests.