Solihull Council has spent more than £30,000 defending planning appeals from residents dissatisfied with rejected applications, according to recently released data.
The 2024/25 financial year marked a surge in appeals, reflecting increased determination among applicants to challenge the council’s decisions. When planning officers or the council’s planning committee refuse an application, affected residents have the right to appeal to the government’s Planning Inspectorate for a final decision.
In the last financial year, Solihull Council’s expenditure on defending these appeals amounted to £35,437. This total covers all related costs, including legal advice and representation. Notably, this figure represents the highest defense spending in recent years, up from £29,835 in 2022/23 and zero expenditure in 2023/24.
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Despite the increased appeals and costs, the council fared well overall, with the majority of appeals dismissed by government inspectors, validating the council’s initial decisions.
However, there were some exceptions. For instance, a notable case involved a detached single-storey garage at a four-bedroom home on Warwick Road, Knowle. Council planners had rejected the application, citing concerns that the garage would be overly prominent and visually intrusive. Nevertheless, the inspector overturned the decision, granting permission on the grounds that the garage’s location would be unobtrusive and would not impact neighboring properties.
Details and outcomes of planning appeals can be found via the Planning Inspectorate’s official website.