Appeal changes

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Rule change — 1 April 2026 What the new planning appeal rules mean for your application

Before 1 April 2026

If refused, you could submit new evidence at appeal stage

You had a second chance to build and strengthen your case

A detailed Statement of Case could be prepared after refusal

Gaps in the original application could be filled later

From 1 April 2026

The Inspector decides solely on what was originally submitted

No new evidence permitted at appeal stage

No second chance — your application must be appeal-ready from day one

The cost of a poorly prepared application is now much higher

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What this means in practice Every planning statement we prepare at Green Light Planning is now built to appeal-ready standard as a matter of course — front-loading the evidence and addressing potential objections before they arise. Pre-application advice has never been more valuable.