Frequently Asked Questions.
1. Appeal Finder Subscription FAQs
- How many users/logins do I need to buy?
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Our system works on "simultaneous logins" not "bums on seats". Thus if you purchase a "Single Login" subscription that means you can add multiple users under the "User" menu item, but only one user can log in at once. In most offices of around five people who use the system a single user login is often enough, maybe requiring a little negotiation amongst colleagues.
More "Simultaneous Logins" can be purchased if this becomes an issue when you're ready to buy. Larger practices may require additional logins to cover regional offices for example.
Only one user can be the "admin" user with access to to invoices, user add/delete options and so on. Normal users are added under the "User" menu by the admin user and only have access to the search, map and document download facility. - What methods of payment do you accept? Close
We accept payment through Direct Debit or credit card. Many of our customers find Direct Debit the most reliable. You will get a choice once you reach the end of the purchase process.
If you wish to pay by BACs you can find the details on the proforma invoice which can be printed during the purchase process or after you have reached the payment screen by clicking the "Orders" link then the invoice icon on the right of the order. Please email once you have processed the payment to ensure your account becomes live as quickly as possible. - I need a pro-forma invoice before I can pay. How do I get one? Close
You can generate a pro-forma invoice through the subscription screen. Go through the payment process until you reach the final "Pre Pay Check" screen with the PayPal logo. On this screen click the "Print Proforma" link.
During the payment process you will have set up an account. Simply log in once you are ready to pay and click "Orders" at the top, then "Pay" next to the order you wish to pay. You have 15 days to pay the order.
You can also pay by BACS, the details are on the bottom of the invoice. Please email us once the payment is made to ensure we amend you account as soon as possible. - I need to reprint an invoice. How do I request one? Close
You can reprint invoices by logging into the system and clicking the "invoices" link at the top of the screen. Simply select the payment for which you require an invoice then click print in your browser (or press CTRL-P). - What are your credit terms? Close
In order to keep our costs down and provide you with as cost effective a service as possible we don't provide credit terms. We accept credit card or direct debit payments, as well as BACs payments, in advance only. Please see the other FAQs regarding these methods of payment. - What is the per document download cost? Close
We do not charge on a per document basis. Once you subscribe you will have access to as many documents as you wish for no extra charge. - What's your "fair use" policy? Close
Our Ts&Cs mention a "fair use" policy. Essentially this restrict the number of searches per person per day. For all normal users this has been set generously and will in no way affect your searching and use of the data. The service has been designed for planning professionals to search the data and use the results to assist and advise clients, and to prepare for planning applications and appeals. It is not meant as a service to be used by data aggregators and statistics gatherers.
Currently we have this set at 50 searches and document downloads per day per person. If you feel you need more please contact us. - How do I cancel a subscription? Close
There is no minimum contract period so you are free to cancel at any time.
Under 'My Account', simply click the 'Cancel' button (located to the left of the 'Log Out' button). You then have the option of either (1.) cancelling the subscription as a 'pause' of the service, making it easy to log-in at a later date when you wish to resume the service, or (2.) deleting your account entirely.
If you want only 1 month's subscription that's fine with us; just cancel the day after setting up a monthly subscription and you will have a month of service with no further payments beyond that point.
If you have any problems or concerns, just email us on info@appealfinder.co.uk and we will work together to sort them out.
2. Appeal Searching FAQs
- Duplicates - why does my search return multiple documents? Close
Although the summaries may initially appear to be duplicates, they are usually different documents from the same appeal. The majority of 'duplicates' are (1) the Decision Notice; and (2) the Costs Decision.
If the Courts have referred an appeal for re-determination, there may be more than one Decision Notice. The final Decision is the one with the most recent date.
Secretary of State Decisions may appear multiple times as (1) the combined Decision Notice; (2) the cover letter; (3) the SoS decision; and (4) the original Inspector's Decision Notice. Each document is slightly different despite the common summary.
AppealFinder stores all documents issued by PINS and in some cases (thankfully rare) PINS has accidentally published all the appeal documentation, resulting in 20+ documents all relating to a single appeal. - How to use the appeals map Close
Advice on using the appeals map can be found using the link below.
For more information:
https://appealfinder.co.uk/newsitem.php?news=27 - Keyword searching advice Close
Please see the separate tab 'Search Tips' at the bottom of this page. - Missing from the appeals map Close
Our mapping software displays all appeals that have a postcode. The majority of appeal addresses include a postcode, however the few that do not have a postcode entered by PINS, are not displayed on the map. - Multi Decision - what does this mean? Close
If you get the 'Multi Decision' message in your search then you need to check the dates to make sure you have the latest decision. Some clients may also find looking at the previous decision and considering the change in thinking as useful to their case.
Decisions may have been decided multiple times due to a ruling in a legal challenge, or because they have been 'called in' or 'recovered' by the Secretary of State.
Occasionally a decision is re-issued as there may be corrections requested by one or more of the parties involved.
In all cases the date is important to determining the latest, and hence correct, decision. - Appeal Planning Officer assisting an Inspector - how do I find such appeals? Close
Where a Decision is written by 2 individuals, namely an appeal planning officer assisting a more senior Inspector, they are indexed under the Inspector as the formal decision maker. The Inspector search will only find the Inspector, so to find appeals by a named appeal planning officer, put their name into the Keyword search instead. - How do I find appeals from pre-Unitary LPAs? Close
Appeals are categorised under the name of the LPA at the time of the original decision. For example, Dorset Unitary Council has existed since April 2019, so to find an appeal from 2018 you will need to input the name of the former LPA of the area you are interested in (for example, Purbeck District Council). - Welsh appeals - are they on Appeal Finder? Close
We have all Welsh appeals from 2010 until September 2021. In October 2021 the Welsh Planning Inspectorate split into a separate organisation, the Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), with its own separate system. Planning is a devolved power in Wales and for some years the legislation, administration and Planning Policy for Wales has been quite different from England. Given the increasing separation of the Welsh and English planning systems, we made the decision to not follow the separate Welsh appeals casework site when it was set up in October 2021. From this date you can find Welsh planning appeals at https://gov.wales/appeal-or-search-planning-decision-or-notice.
3. Website navigation FAQs
- Where do I find the latest on appeal timescales? Close
For the Planning Inspectorate's latest statistics on appeal timescales, use the link below:
For more information:
https://appealfinder.co.uk/Planning-appeal-success-rates-and-timescales.n48.html - Where do I find appeal performance by LPA? Close
For LPA success rates for planning appeals for the last financial year, use the link below
For more information:
https://appealfinder.co.uk/Local-planning-authority-success-rates.p19.html - Where do I find appeal success rates by Inspector? Close
For each Inspector, the number of appeals decided and % allowed in the last financial year can be found using the link below. BE CAREFUL using these statistics, bearing in mind the important points set out above and below the table of Inspectors.
For more information:
https://appealfinder.co.uk/Success%20rates%20of%20s78%20planning%20appeals%20in%20the%20South%20East.p15.html - Where do I find News Blogs? Close
Occasional Blogs with advice, observations and links to useful information can be found via the link below.
For more information:
https://appealfinder.co.uk/newslist.php - Where is your link to housing affordability statistics? Close
Every March the Government publish the housing affordability ratio for each LPA. A link to this data is in the news page below.
For more information:
https://appealfinder.co.uk/Do-rising-house-prices-help-win-an-planning-appeal%3F.n50.html - Where are DLUHC's statistics on affordable housing need and delivery? Close
Our Blog 'Winning Appeals with good evidence on affordable housing' can be found using the link below:
For more information:
https://appealfinder.co.uk/Winning-appeals-with-good-evidence-on-affordable-housing.n41.html - How do I contact you? Close
Drop Helen an email at info@appealfinder.co.uk.
For more information:
https://appealfinder.co.uk/about_us.php
