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Comparison of success rates for planning appeals in North West England

There is significant variability across the local planning authorities in the North West in their performance in defending planning appeals.  Appeal finder's comparison tables for 2019-20 and the previous year 2018-19 are below, revealing some uncomfortable truths about the likelihood of success for s78 planning appeals for appellants and local planning authorities alike.
For householder appeals please see the very bottom of the page.

LPAs with the highest and lowest planning appeal success rates

The LPAs with the best records for successfully defending their s78 appeals in 2019/20 in the North West were Blackburn, Burnley, Halton, Eden, Lancater and Preston, with less than 10% of their appeals overturned/ allowed by the Planning Inspectorate.

At the bottom of the league table this year in the North West were Salford, Carlisle, St. Helens and Blackpool with 50% or more of their appeals allowed, significantly higher than the national average of 24%.

Change in planning appeal success rates over time

A comparison with the Planning Inspectorate's data for the previous year 2018-19 shows a significant improvement for some local planning authorities and a decline for others. For example, Eden had only 8% of appeals allowed in 2019/20 compared to 33% in 2018/19, no doubt linked to adoption of its Local Plan in October 2018.  Halton, Lancaster, Liverpool and Wyre experienced similar improvements.

Change over time can reflect one or more of the following factors:
    • progress of a Local Plan;
    • change in five year housing land supply position;
    • LPAs granting permission more readily after experiencing a previous swathe of appeals (behaviour adjustment);
    • planning Inspectors being less inclined to allow an appeal due to individuals’ working styles and PINS guidance;
    • statistical variance or a small number of appeals.

Householder appeals

Householder appeal rates for 2019/20 and a comparison with the previous year 2018/19 are below:

To find appeals that are relevant to you, use the search on our Home page.

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