Establish which deadline has expired
Check the confirmed valid date, the application type and any written extension of time. The deadline in an acknowledgement may have been superseded by an agreement made later. Statutory periods and agreed extensions are governed by the decision-period rules. [3]
Make a short chronology with the submission, validation, information requests and any agreements. This is more useful when asking for an explanation than simply counting from the date the first drawing was uploaded.
Ask for a specific route to a decision
Request a written update identifying the unresolved issues, whose response is needed and the next realistic decision date. A focused extension can be sensible where a particular report, revised plan or final assessment will resolve the matter. National guidance allows agreed longer periods; it does not make them guarantees of permission. [2]
Before accepting more time, consider your practical options. Can you provide the missing information? Is the remaining objection a design problem rather than an administrative delay? Would an appeal require the same unresolved evidence? Record the answer before extending the programme.
Non-determination appeal
An appeal can transfer the decision to the Planning Inspectorate after the applicable period expires. There are time limits for bringing that appeal; the relevant appeal guidance must be checked for the application type and any associated enforcement action. Do not assume that you can leave the application undecided indefinitely and appeal whenever convenient. [1][4]
An appeal is not merely a complaint about slow administration. It asks for a planning decision on the proposal. Prepare to explain why the development should be permitted, not only why the council's response was late. [4]
Could the application fee be refunded?
For qualifying non-major applications made on or after 6 December 2023, the planning guarantee can require refund of the application fee if no decision is made within sixteen weeks. The corresponding period for major applications is twenty-six weeks. Exceptions apply, including where a longer determination period has been agreed in writing. [5]
These refund periods are not new statutory permission deadlines. They do not authorise building and do not reimburse every professional cost or loss caused by a delay. Check eligibility against the actual application and agreements before claiming a refund. [5]
Choose the remedy that addresses the problem
Keep service complaints, fee-refund requests and appeals separate in your correspondence. A complaint seeks a response about administration; an appeal seeks a planning decision. For a live project, prioritise a clear strategy and accurate deadlines rather than assuming that repeated chasing, a refund request or a complaint protects appeal rights. [1][4]