6.22 The Government recognises there are opportunities to improve the planning appeal process for all parties, especially inquiries. In 2010-11 there were 371 planning inquiries out of nearly 16,000 planning appeals decided.
6.23 Building on previous changes, the Government will speed up the appeals procedure, focussing on the scope to streamline the set of Inquiry Procedure Rules for planning appeals to increase consistency of practice and certainty for investors on decision times: with greater focus on pre-appeal engagement and with greater use of electronic communications to improve the handling of appeals and speed up the sharing of documents between parties. The Government will bring forward measures for implementation in summer 2012.
6.24 In doing so, the Government will ensure there is reasonable time and opportunity for all parties to comply and that the processes remain fair to all.