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.

167,710 planning appeals indexed

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Latest appeal decisions

The most recent planning appeals, summarised by AI.

Quashed

Appeal Quashed — LEEDS

3376890

5A Fire Station Houses, LEEDS, LS9 6NL

The appeal decision letter concerns an enforcement notice (EN) issued by Leeds City Council against Mr. Juris Vilumsons for the alleged unauthorized erection of a dwellinghouse at 5A Fire Station Houses, Gipton. The EN required the demolition of the dwelling and the removal of debris, with compliance periods set at 9 and 10 months. The main issues revolved around the clarity and validity of the EN. The Inspector noted that the EN failed to specify how the constructed dwelling deviated from the planning permission granted in January 2023, which led to confusion regarding the alleged breach. The Council's reasoning cited visual amenity impacts and harm to neighboring properties but lacked precision in detailing how the dwelling was detrimental. Furthermore, the EN included references to boundary treatments that were not part of the alleged breach, adding to the ambiguity. The Inspector highlighted that the Council's subsequent clarifications introduced new reasons for the enforcement that were not included in the original EN, potentially causing injustice to the appellant. Additionally, the EN was deemed invalid as it was not served on the owner/occupier of the adjacent property, which could lead to legal complications. Ultimately, the Inspector quashed the EN, concluding that it did not provide sufficient clarity regarding the breach of planning control, compliance steps, or the land involved. As a result, the appeal on various grounds and the deemed application for planning permission were not considered.

Part Allowed

Appeal Part Allowed — the UK

APP/E5900/C/25/3373372

111A Commercial Road, E1 1RD

The appeal decision concerns an enforcement notice issued by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets against Mr. Aziz Rahman of Hungry Cow Ltd for the unauthorized change of use of premises at 111A Commercial Road from a café/coffee shop (Class E) to a takeaway (sui generis). The notice, issued on 18 August 2025, required the cessation of the takeaway use within three months. The main issue was whether the compliance period specified in the enforcement notice was reasonable. The appellant argued for an extension to six months to allow for the submission of a pre-application for a mixed-use proposal and to provide existing employees with more time to seek alternative employment in a high-unemployment area. The Inspector noted that two previous applications to change the use to a takeaway had been refused due to the premises' proximity to schools, which contravened local development plan policies. The Inspector emphasized that extending the compliance period would not be reasonable, given the low likelihood of a successful application and the potential negative health impacts on school-aged children from easy access to unhealthy food. While acknowledging the employment concerns for two full-time employees, the Inspector concluded that these must be weighed against the health implications of allowing the takeaway to continue operating. Ultimately, the appeal was dismissed, and the enforcement notice was upheld, maintaining the requirement to cease the takeaway use within the original three-month period.

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 appeal was made under sections 174(2)(b), (d), and (f) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The main issues addressed were whether the alleged breach of planning control had occurred, whether enforcement action could be taken due to the timing of the construction, and whether the requirements of the enforcement notice were excessive. The Inspector found that construction of the building began in 2021, confirming that a new structure had indeed been erected, thus upholding the breach of planning control. On the ground (d) appeal, the Inspector determined that the building was not substantially completed and therefore not immune from enforcement action. The building lacked essential features for habitation, such as windows, doors, and utility connections, supporting the conclusion that it was still under construction. Regarding the ground (f) appeal, the Inspector ruled that the requirements of the enforcement notice to demolish the building and restore the land were not excessive. The appellant's claims regarding the previous use of the land were not substantiated with clear evidence. In conclusion, the Inspector dismissed the appeal and upheld the enforcement notice, requiring the demolition of the building and removal of all related materials within six months.

Not Proceeded With

Appeal Not Proceeded With — ELY

APP/V0510/C/25/3376525

Mobile Home on Land at Lazy Otter Meadows, ELY, CB6 3FS

The appeal decision concerns a mobile home stationed at Lazy Otter Meadows, Cambridge Road, Stretham, Ely, which was subject to an enforcement notice issued by East Cambridgeshire District Council for a material change of use without planning permission. The main issues were whether the mobile home was within the footprint of the current developed area of the site and its impact on the countryside. The Inspector noted that while the mobile home was being used for residential purposes, the key question was whether this constituted a material change of use. The site is part of an established caravan park, and the Inspector found that the mobile home was stationed within the footprint of the approved site, which had been used for similar purposes historically. The Council's argument that the area was designated as a late arrivals zone did not negate its status as part of the developed site. The Inspector concluded that the mobile home did not adversely affect the character of the area and complied with local planning policies, particularly Policy HOU 7, which allows for intensification of existing caravan sites in the countryside. The Inspector also addressed concerns regarding parking and the potential for flooding, finding no significant issues. Ultimately, the appeal was allowed, the enforcement notice was quashed, and planning permission was granted for the use of the land for the stationing of the mobile home for residential purposes. No specific conditions were imposed regarding the caravan itself, as the permission was for the use of the land rather than the specific structure.

Quashed

Appeal Quashed — the UK

APP/X4725/C/25/3375942

Land at unit 8 Back Grantley Street, WF1 4LG

The appeal decision concerns a breach of planning control at Unit 8 Back Grantley Street, Wakefield, where the appellant, Mr. Buz Yasin, contested an enforcement notice issued by Wakefield Metropolitan District Council. The notice alleged an unauthorized change of use from B8 (storage) to B2 (vehicle valeting and repairs) without planning permission, requiring cessation of the use within three months. The appeal was made under section 174(2)(b) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which asserts that the alleged breach did not occur. The Inspector's site visit revealed that while the premises appeared inactive at the time, the appellant failed to provide substantial evidence to refute the Council's claims. The Council had received complaints regarding noise and activities consistent with vehicle repairs, and a previous planning application for the change of use was refused. The Inspector noted that the appellant's actions, including the submission of a planning application shortly after the Council's awareness of the breach, indicated that the change of use had indeed occurred. The Inspector concluded that the breach of planning control had taken place before the enforcement notice was issued, thus dismissing the appeal and upholding the enforcement notice. In conclusion, the appeal was dismissed, and the enforcement notice remains in effect, requiring the cessation of the vehicle valeting and repairs use.

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.

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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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