Council will have to dip into reserves to defend planning appeals
30/07/2025
When the council loses costs can be awarded to the person appealing
The amount of money spent defending planning appeals in the Cherwell District has gone over the amount of budget allocated, as at the end of July.
Cherwell District Council will now have to dip into its reserves to continue defending decisions taken by the Planning Committee where the applicant isn’t happy with the ruling.
When a planning application is refused, the applicant has the right to appeal to the Planning Inspector. Appeals can also be lodged against conditions imposed when permission is granted, or when the council hasn’t made a decision within a statutory time period.
Appeals can involve expensive legal teams and, for larger applications, a public hearing. When the Planning Inspector finds in favour of the person appealing they can be awarded costs.
So far in 2025 there have been 38 appeal decisions, with 14 allowed and 24 dismissed.
Amongst the larger appeal decisions yet to be made, a public inquiry is set to begin on August 19 after the council refused planning permission for 60 houses in Bloxham on the Tadmarton Road, between village boundary and Park Farm.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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