About us
Source: gov.uk (2025-04-01)

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

Our purpose

Our purpose is to deal with planning appeals, national infrastructure, planning applications, examinations of local plans and other planning-related and specialist casework.

We share our expertise with our customers, communities, businesses, local and national government to enable good planning outcomes.

The Planning Inspectorate’s service covers five main areas: Appeals, Applications, Infrastructure, Plans Examinations and Rights of Way and Commons.

Appeals

The right to appeal a planning decision made by a local authority is a key feature of the planning system, as is appealing when an authority is taking too long. Planning appeals in England account for the majority of the appeals we handle, but we also make decisions on enforcement notice appeals, environmental appeals, listed building consent appeals, lawful development certificate appeals, community infrastructure levy appeals, tree preservation order appeals, anti-social high hedge appeals and hedgerow notice appeals. See detailed information about planning permission and appeals (https://www.gov.uk/topic/planning-development/planning-permission-appeals).

Applications

Where the Secretary of State is the first decision maker, we either decide those applications or make a recommendation to the Secretary of State (in England). Types of application we consider include called-in planning applications (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/called-in-planning-applications), applications in local planning authorities designated for poor performance, decisions on Compulsory Purchase Orders (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appropriation-or-compulsory-purchase-of-certain-types-of-land-including-common-land-or-town-or-village-green) and Purchase Notices (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/purchase-notices-served-under-the-town-and-country-planning-act-1990), recovered marine licensing applications (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/marine-licensing-applicationrecovery-procedures) and necessary wayleaves for electricity lines.

Infrastructure

We provide the application process for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) across England and Wales. NSIPs, such as new harbours, roads and power generating stations, require development consent before they can be constructed. We also consider infrastructure proposals under the Transport and Works Act and other legislation for proposals including railways and tramways, stopping up orders and changes to tolls.

Visit the Welcome to Find a National Infrastructure Project (https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/) for project information and advice.

Plans Examinations

We examine local plans prepared by local planning authorities in England. Succinct and up-to-date plans should provide a positive vision for the future of each area and a framework for addressing housing needs and other economic, social and environmental priorities. Other examinations handled by the Planning Inspectorate include community infrastructure levy examinations (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/community-infrastructure-levy-plan-examinations) and spatial development strategies (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/examining-spatial-development-strategies).

Rights of Way and Commons

Our national public rights of way network is a proud part of maintaining public access to countryside for everyone. Councils are responsible for designating and approving changes to routes and status, but we have an important role in England where there are disputes and where decisions are taking too long. We also make decisions for the Secretary of State on a range of other matters in England including decisions relating to town and village greens and work on designated Common Land. See our Public Rights of Way & Common Land collection (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/access-to-the-countryside).

Who we are

We have around 800 staff and 100 contractors.