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Response 3905987

Response to request for information

Reference

3905987

Response date

9 March 2026

Request

Please provide a breakdown of costs incurred by the Authority in relation to Planning Appeals for each financial year from 2010/11 to the current date in 2025.

Specifically, I request the data be provided in a table format containing the following categories:

  1. The total amount spent by the Authority on legal fees, external consultants, and administrative costs for defending planning appeals.
  2. The total number of planning appeals defended by the Authority (if an appeal crosses a financial year please include it in the same year as the costs were paid).
  3. The total amount paid out to appellants (third parties) following a decision by the Planning Inspectorate that the Authority acted unreasonably (Awards of Costs).
  4. The total number of instances where costs were paid out to appellants (third parties) following a decision by the Planning Inspectorate that the Authority acted unreasonably (Awards of Costs).

Response

Please provide a breakdown of costs incurred by the Authority in relation to Planning Appeals for each financial year from 2010/11 to the current date in 2025.

Specifically, I request the data be provided in a table format containing the following categories:

  1. The total amount spent by the Authority on legal fees, external consultants, and administrative costs for defending planning appeals.
    • We have only included spending as published on the expenditure over £500 reports. This is available on our website. Expenditure Over £500
  2. The total number of planning appeals defended by the Authority (if an appeal crosses a financial year please include it in the same year as the costs were paid).
    • Available to view on our website by using the Advanced Search feature on Planning Online and searching by Appeal Decision Date. Planning Online
  3. The total amount paid out to appellants (third parties) following a decision by the Planning Inspectorate that the Authority acted unreasonably (Awards of Costs).
    • From 1 April 2018 to 31 January 2026 = £87,548.20 in total.
  4. The total number of instances where costs were paid out to appellants (third parties) following a decision by the Planning Inspectorate that the Authority acted unreasonably (Awards of Costs).
    • From 1 April 2018 to 31 January 2026 = 4 instances in total.

FOI Responses Planning - 2026