Planning Inspectorate delays appeals in "most affected" Olympic sites

The Inspectorate said that in the London boroughs it expects to be most affected by the Games, it would not arrange any activities relating to planning appeals during the period when the Games are on unless a local planning authority agrees otherwise.

The most affected areas, and those where planning appeals will be delayed are, Tower Hamlets, Newham and Greenwich, according to the Inspectorate. It has also delayed appeal events in Weymouth and Portland, where the sailing will be held and Wimbledon, where the tennis will take place.

Local planning authorities have been urged by the Inspectorate to arrange more cases than usual in the weeks leading up to the start of the Olympics, and between the Olympics and Paralympics to account for the disrupted schedule during the Games period.

"We will not schedule any more events – site visits, Hearings or Inquiries - in the three most affected London Boroughs for the duration of the Games unless the Local Planning Authority

(LPA) agrees to a date in the Olympic period," the Planning Inspectorate said in a letter (2-pages/ 95KB PDF) to those authorities.

"We will seek to schedule all Hearings and Inquiries in other London Boroughs including

Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea (volleyball at Earls Court) and Merton (tennis at

Wimbledon), and Windsor and Maidenhead for rowing, outside the Games’ period as well, unless the Local Planning Authority agree to a date in this period," the letter said.

Delaying householder appeals may not be possible, the Inspectorate said but it "will strive not to schedule these in the Olympic or Paralympic period."

If unavoidable, the Inspectorate will schedule in householder appeal site visits and allocate them to Inspectors and non-salaried Inspectors who live in or on the edge of London, it said.

The London 2012 Olympic Games are scheduled to start in 80 days and the planning appeal casework alterations will apply from 27 July to 9 September.