Town and Country Planning Act 1990

195 Appeals against refusal or failure to give decision on application.E+W

(1)Where an application is made to a local planning authority for [F1a certificate under section 191 or 192] and—

(a)the application is refused or is refused in part, or

(b)the authority do not give notice to the applicant of their decision on the application within such period as may be prescribed by a development order or within such extended period as may at any time be agreed upon in writing between the applicant and the authority,

the applicant may by notice appeal to the Secretary of State.

[F2(1B)A notice of appeal under this section must be—

(a)served within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed by a development order;

(b)accompanied by such information as may be prescribed by such an order.

(1C)The time prescribed for the service of a notice of appeal under this section must not be less than—

(a)28 days from the date of notification of the decision on the application; or

(b)in the case of an appeal under subsection (1)(b), 28 days from—

(i)the end of the period prescribed as mentioned in subsection (1)(b), or

(ii)as the case may be, the extended period mentioned in subsection (1)(b).

F3(1D). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F4(1DA)Once notice of an appeal under this section to the Welsh Ministers has been served, the application to which it relates may not be varied, except in such circumstances as may be prescribed by a development order.

(1DB)A development order which makes provision under subsection (1DA) must provide for an application which is varied to be subject to such further consultation as the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.]

F3(1E). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3(1F). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

(2)On any such appeal, if and so far as the Secretary of State is satisfied—

(a)in the case of an appeal under subsection (1)(a), that the authority’s refusal is not well-founded, or

(b)in the case of an appeal under subsection (1)(b), that if the authority had refused the application their refusal would not have been well-founded,

he shall grant the appellant [F5a certificate under section 191 or, as the case may be, 192] accordingly or, in the case of a refusal in part, modify the certificate granted by the authority on the application.

(3)If and so far as the Secretary of State is satisfied that the authority’s refusal is or, as the case may be, would have been well-founded, he shall dismiss the appeal.

[F6(3A)Where the local planning authority referred to in subsection (1) is in England, if at any time before or during the determination of an appeal under subsection (1)(a) or (b) it appears to the Secretary of State that the appellant is responsible for undue delay in the progress of the appeal, the Secretary of State may—

(a)give the appellant notice that the appeal will be dismissed unless the appellant takes, within the period specified in the notice, such steps as are so specified for the expedition of the appeal, and

(b)if the appellant fails to take those steps within that period, dismiss the appeal accordingly.]

[F7(4)References in this section to a refusal of an application in part include a modification or substitution of the description in the application of the use, operations or other matter in question.]

(5)For the purposes of the application [F8in relation to England] of [F9section 288(10)(b)] [F9sections 196(1A), 288(10)(b) and 319A(7)(d)] in relation to an appeal in a case within subsection (1)(b) it shall be assumed that the authority decided to refuse the application in question.

[F10(5A)For the purposes of the application in relation to Wales of sections 288(10)(b) and 319B(7)(d) in relation to an appeal in a case within subsection (1)(b) it shall be assumed that the authority decided to refuse the application in question.]

(6)Schedule 6 applies to appeals under this section.

Textual Amendments

F2S. 195(1B)-(1F) inserted (6.4.2009 for E., 30.4.2012 for W.) by Planning Act 2008 (c. 29), s. 241(3)(4), Sch. 11 para. 3 (with s. 226); S.I. 2009/400, art. 5(d); S.I. 2012/802, art. 2(b)

F3S. 195(1D)-(1F) omitted (6.9.2015) by virtue of Planning (Wales) Act 2015 (anaw 4), s. 58(2)(a), Sch. 7 para. 7(3)

F4S. 195(1DA)(1DB) inserted (6.9.2015 for specified purposes, 5.5.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Planning (Wales) Act 2015 (anaw 4), ss. 47(2), 58(2)(b)(4)(b); S.I. 2017/546, art. 3(b) (with art. 4)

F9Words in s. 195(5) substituted (25.4.2024 for specified purposes) by Planning Act 2008 (c. 29), s. 241(8), Sch. 10 para. 7 (with s. 226); S.I. 2024/452, reg. 2(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 195: power to apply conferred (10.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s. 171(4)(a); S.I. 1993/2762, art. 3