Barking and Dagenham Council's planning department has achieved a planning appeal success rate of 79%, significantly exceeding the national average of 71%. This strong performance, which has been sustained for the fifth consecutive year, is attributed to procedural changes implemented by Annie, who has been leading on appeal procedures and compiled an appeal database.

The database, a spreadsheet, allows staff to search for similar appeals by type and reason for refusal, aiding in more consistent decision-making. This focus on the quality of decision-making is considered a testament to the team's work, beyond just the raw percentage of successful appeals.

Aerial view of Barking and Dagenham, showcasing urban development and green spaces.
Aerial view of Barking and Dagenham, showcasing urban development and green spaces.

While the council's 79% dismissal rate for planning appeals is a notable achievement, the meeting information does not provide a direct comparison to similar-sized councils. The Authority Monitoring Report 2024-25 Highlights [https://lbbd.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s179966/Authority%20Monitoring%20Report%202024-25%20Highlights.pdf] provides further context on the council's performance metrics.

The meeting also touched upon specific types of planning applications and common reasons for appeals. One case involved an application for a change of use to a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) which was refused due to concerns about the loss of a family-sized dwelling, non-compliance with space standards, potential amenity impacts, and parking issues. In contrast, an appeal against the refusal of a conversion of a dwelling into two self-contained residential flats was allowed.

Architectural floor plan of Flat 2, a two-bedroom, three-person dwelling measuring 78.41 sqm, featuring a living/dining area, kitchen, bathroom, store, and bedroom.
Architectural floor plan of Flat 2, a two-bedroom, three-person dwelling measuring 78.41 sqm, featuring a living/dining area, kitchen, bathroom, store, and bedroom.

In this latter case, the reasons for refusal included the loss of a family-sized dwelling, non-compliance with space standards, and inadequate bike and waste storage. The inspector's decision to allow the appeal was influenced by an interpretation of 'generally' family-sized dwellings and partly due to further information submitted regarding bike storage. It was also noted that objections are no longer a trigger for the gateway test in national planning reforms.

A map showing the proposed development site at 145 Stanford Road, Barking and Dagenham, highlighted in red.
A map showing the proposed development site at 145 Stanford Road, Barking and Dagenham, highlighted in red.

Further details on planning performance can be found in the Planning Performance Review covering report - 2025-26 [https://lbbd.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s179972/Planning%20Performance%20Review%20covering%20report%20-%202025-26.pdf] and the Appeal Bundle 25-26 - App B [https://lbbd.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s179993/Appeal%20Bundle%2025-26%20-%20App%20B.pdf].