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Planning Applications and Appeals

Not every application goes through first time.
Whether you are submitting a new application, appealing a refusal or facing enforcement, our Chartered Town Planners handle planning applications and appeals across Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

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From application to a decision

Local Planning Authorities now expect more technical detail than they used to, from ecological surveys to heritage statements, and getting this right early makes the biggest difference to how smoothly your case moves through the system. Whichever stage you are at, submission, negotiation with the council, or handling a planning appeal, our Chartered Town Planners work alongside our Development Consultancy team, and if you need to take things further, we can represent you through an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

If you are already facing an enforcement notice, the right response depends on the type of breach and how long it has been in place, so it’s worth talking to us before you reply to the council. We work across residential, commercial and agricultural sites, from a single extension to a multi-phase development.

KEY CONTACTS

Kirsty Castle
MRTPI AISEP

01892 509280
Email Kirsty

Clare Bartlett
MRTPI PISEP

01798 877555
Email Clare

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Which of these applies to you?

We handle every stage of the application process, from early design advice through to negotiating with the council, securing consent, and clearing any conditions attached to the decision. Whether you need full support from start to finish or a single point of expert advice, we can pick up at whatever stage you’re at.

If permission is refused, or enforcement action is taken, you can appeal for an independent review. We have handled appeals at every scale, and we will advise you honestly on your chances before recommending whether it is worth pursuing, then represent you fully if you decide to go ahead.

If a breach of planning control has happened on your land, the council has several legal routes it can take, and each one calls for a different response. We advise on the right way to handle it, drawing on our knowledge of enforcement law to protect your position.

Common questions about planning applications and appeals

Most councils aim to decide a straightforward application within eight weeks, and larger or more complex schemes within thirteen. In practice, extensions of time are common, especially where technical surveys or extra consultation is needed.

You usually have two options: revise the scheme and resubmit, or appeal the decision. Which makes more sense depends on the reasons for refusal, so it’s worth talking it through before deciding either way.

Yes, most refusals can be appealed to the Planning Inspectorate for an independent review. There’s a time limit for lodging an appeal, and the process can take several months depending on which route applies.

For most householder applications, it’s twelve weeks from the decision. For other application types, it’s six months. Worth checking which limit applies to your case early, rather than close to the deadline.

Common examples include building something without permission, or not sticking to the conditions attached to an approval. Councils can take enforcement action, so it’s worth getting advice as soon as you’re aware of a potential issue, rather than waiting for a notice to arrive.

It depends on the project. Some works fall under permitted development rights and don’t need a full application, but plenty do, and starting without the right permission in place can lead to enforcement later.