The Planning Inspectorate is nationally rolling out their digital appeals service, which has been handling householder appeals (fast-track cases) and section 78 (full planning) appeals online in a pilot involving five London boroughs. The service has been put to the test in: Barnet, Greenwich, Havering, Richmond upon Thames, and Bromley.

This new service streamlines submission and management of appeals, by using a user-friendly local planning authority (LPA) dashboard to review and monitor cases. Working digitally improves communication for all parties involved, and reduces paper correspondence.

The rollout will work in phases, the first involving Gloucestershire County Council and Gosport Borough Council and Gosport Borough Council. The second cohort will increase the number of authorities joining towards the end of this month, before a national rollout ensuing all authorities in England have joined by December 2025.