How do I search for planning appeals?

Claw lets you search over 350,000 planning appeal decisions from the Planning Inspectorate and DPEA. Use our advanced filters to narrow results by local authority, appeal type, decision outcome, date range, and more. You can also use full-text search to find specific keywords in decision letters.

What planning appeal data does Claw include?

Claw indexes appeal decisions from the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) covering England, the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) covering Scotland, and Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) covering Wales. This includes householder appeals, full planning appeals, enforcement notices, listed building appeals, and more — with AI-generated highlights from each decision letter.

What is the success rate for planning appeals in the UK?

Nationally, around 30-35% of planning appeals are allowed or part-allowed. However, success rates vary significantly by local authority and appeal type. Claw provides detailed success rate data for every local planning authority so you can benchmark your chances before appealing.

Claw is built for planning professionals — including planning consultants, architects, developers, solicitors, and local planning authority officers. Anyone who needs to research planning appeal precedents, analyse decision trends, or prepare statements of case will benefit from Claw.

Can I read the original appeal decision letters?

Yes. Claw provides direct access to original decision letter PDFs for every appeal. You can also use our AI chat feature to ask questions about any decision letter and get instant answers — no need to read the entire document.

How much does Claw cost?

Claw offers a 14-day free trial with full access. After that, plans start from £49/month for individuals. Team plans are available for organisations that need multiple seats and shared bookmarks. No credit card is required to start your trial.

165,419 planning appeals indexed

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Latest appeal decisions

The most recent planning appeals, summarised by AI.

Planning appeal — the UK

PPA-130-2099

Inveraray Shinty Club, PA32 8XD

On July 9, 2026, Argyll and Bute Council refused planning permission for the erection of a telecommunications equipment compound, including a 25-meter high tower, at Inveraray Shinty Club. The refusal was based on several key issues concerning the proposal's compliance with local and national planning policies. The main arguments against the proposal highlighted its adverse impact on visual amenity, character, and appearance of the surrounding area. Specifically, the Council cited non-compliance with National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) Policy 24 (Digital Infrastructure) and Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2) Policies 44 (Telecommunications), 15 (Historic Environment), 17 (Conservation Areas), and 20 (Gardens and Designed Landscapes). The decision emphasized that the development would negatively affect the Historic Environment, contravening NPF4 Policies 7 (Historic Assets) and 14 (Design, Quality and Place). The Reporter's reasoning underscored the importance of preserving the visual and historic integrity of the area, aligning with the Council's assessment of the proposal's incompatibility with established planning frameworks. As a final decision, the Council formally refused the application, allowing the applicant the option to request a review of the decision within three months if aggrieved. The refusal did not indicate any amendments to the initial proposal, nor did it classify the application as a departure from the Development Plan.

Split Decision

Appeal Split Decision — the UK

ENA-290-2013

Land Adjoining 13 Saw Mill Terrace, EH19 3FY

In the appeal decision regarding enforcement notice ENA-290-2013, the Reporter upheld the enforcement notice issued by Midlothian Council but varied its terms. The enforcement notice concerned the alleged unauthorized change of use of land from public open space to private garden ground and the erection of a fence at 13 Saw Mill Terrace, Bonnyrigg. The main issues revolved around whether a change of use had occurred and the accuracy of the enforcement notice regarding the land in question. The appellant argued that the alleged breaches had not occurred and that the requirements of the notice were excessive. The Reporter found that while the triangular area of land was indeed being used as private garden ground, the rectangular area directly in front of the property was not subject to a change of use, as it was owned by the appellant and had characteristics of a private garden. The Reporter noted that the enforcement notice did not require the cessation of the land's use, which could have led to planning permission being deemed granted if the notice's requirements were met. The Reporter declined to amend the enforcement notice to include additional requirements proposed by the council, as this would have caused injustice to the appellant. Ultimately, the appeal was partially successful; the Reporter upheld the enforcement notice but confirmed that the allegations regarding the rectangular area and a section of fencing were unfounded. The enforcement notice will take effect immediately, with compliance required as specified, but without the additional conditions sought by the council.

Planning appeal — the UK

PPA-220-2096

89 Maybole Crescent, G77 5SY

The East Renfrewshire Council has refused planning permission for the change of use of a dwellinghouse at 89 Maybole Crescent, Newton Mearns, to short-term lets. The application, submitted on 17th March 2026, was denied on 18th May 2026, primarily due to concerns regarding compatibility with the surrounding residential properties. The Council determined that the proposed short-term lets would lead to an intensification of use that could adversely affect the amenity of neighboring residences. Key arguments against the proposal included the potential for increased noise and disruption, which the Council deemed incompatible with the existing residential character of the area. The decision cited non-compliance with several policies, specifically Policies 14 and 30(e)(i) of the National Planning Framework 4, as well as Policies D1 and D2 of the East Renfrewshire Local Development Plan 2. The Council concluded that there were no material considerations that warranted approval of the application. The decision letter also outlined the applicant's right to appeal the refusal within three months, detailing the process for submitting a Notice of Review to the Local Review Body. No specific conditions were attached to the refusal, as the application was entirely rejected.

Part Allowed

Appeal Part Allowed — the UK

APP/E5900/C/25/3373372

111A Commercial Road, E1 1RD

In the appeal decision regarding the enforcement notice issued by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the property at 111A Commercial Road, the main issue was the alleged material change of use from a café/coffee shop (Class E) to a takeaway (sui-generis) without planning permission. The appellant, Mr. Aziz Rahman of Hungry Cow Ltd, contested the three-month compliance period set by the notice, arguing for an extension to six months to facilitate a pre-application for a mixed-use proposal and to assist employees in finding alternative jobs. The Inspector noted that two previous planning applications for the takeaway had been refused due to the site's proximity to schools, which contravened development plan policies aimed at limiting takeaways near educational institutions. The Inspector emphasized that extending the compliance period would not be reasonable, as it would prolong the availability of unhealthy food to school-aged children, negatively impacting their health and wellbeing. While acknowledging the potential job loss for two employees, the Inspector concluded that the health implications of the takeaway's operation outweighed the benefits of providing additional time for employment transition. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, and the enforcement notice was upheld, maintaining the requirement to cease the takeaway use within the original three-month timeframe.

Quashed

Appeal Quashed — Lancashire

APP/Z2315/C/25/3376788

Land at Cold Soil Ruins, Kebs Road, Lancashire, OL14 8SD

The appeal decision concerns an enforcement notice issued by Burnley Borough Council against Mr. Christian Hoyle for the unauthorized erection of a building at Cold Soil Ruins, Todmorden. The notice required the demolition of the building and the removal of related materials within six months. The key issues addressed in the appeal were whether the alleged breach of planning control occurred (ground b), whether enforcement action was barred due to the building being substantially completed (ground d), and whether the requirements of the notice were excessive (ground f). The Inspector found that construction of the building began in 2021, with evidence from aerial photographs confirming its presence after this date. The building was determined not to be substantially completed, lacking essential features for habitation, such as windows, doors, and utility connections. The Inspector noted that the original intention of the appellant to use the building as a dwellinghouse remained unchanged, which further supported the conclusion that it was not immune from enforcement action. Regarding ground f, the Inspector ruled that the requirements of the notice were not excessive, as they aimed to remedy the breach of planning control and restore the land to its previous condition. The appellant's claims about the land's prior use were not substantiated by clear evidence. Ultimately, the Inspector dismissed the appeal, upholding the enforcement notice and confirming the requirement for demolition and site restoration.

Everything you need for appeal research

Stop spending hours trawling through the Planning Inspectorate website. Find the precedents you need in seconds.

Powerful Search

Full-text search with advanced filtering by decision type, local authority, date range, and more.

Comprehensive Database

Over 350,000 planning appeal decisions from the Planning Inspectorate, fully indexed and searchable.

PDF Document Access

View original appeal decision letters and documents directly in the browser.

Save & Bookmark

Bookmark appeals for later reference and build your own library of relevant decisions.

Team Collaboration

Invite team members, share bookmarks, and collaborate on appeal research together.

AI-Powered Insights

Chat with appeal documents using AI. Ask questions and get instant answers from any decision letter.

What's New — July 2026

The latest features and improvements shipped to Claw.

AI Assistant Connector (Claude & ChatGPT)

New

Connect Claw to Claude or ChatGPT and search planning appeals conversationally — read decisions, check citations, and pull case details right inside your assistant.

Full-Text Decision Search

New

Search now finds cases by any wording inside the decision letter itself — not just the address, metadata, or AI summary.

Highlighted Search Matches

New

Results now show the exact passage from the decision that matched your search, highlighted in context.

View all updates

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Lisa Rasch MRTPI

Founder, Claw App | Director, Freedom Planning and Design

A practicing planning consultant and the founder of CLAW — a planning appeals intelligence platform transforming how planners, consultants and local planning authorities engage with appeal data.

With a 100% success rate across her consultancy work, Lisa is trusted by homeowners, developers, architects and local authorities for her clarity, integrity and expertise. As a woman leading a fast-growing PlanTech company in a traditionally male-dominated sector, she brings together deep professional experience, commercial insight and a genuine drive to bridge the gap between policy, practice and technology.

Named one of The Planner's Women of Influence three years running.

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