Advertisement appeals
If you want to display an advert on a building you may have to apply to your local planning authority for permission.
The planning authority may also contact you with instructions to remove an existing advertisement.
You have the right to appeal to Scottish Ministers if a planning authority:
- refuses permission to display an advertisement
- imposes conditions to display an advertisement
- attach conditions to a decision you do not think should apply
- does not come to a decision on your application within 2 months
- serves an Advertisement Enforcement Notice
- serves an Advertisement Discontinuance Notice
How to appeal
You can appeal online using the ePlanning Portal.
Alternatively, you can download an appeal form and submit it to Scottish Ministers by post or email. You must send a copy to the planning authority.
There is no cost for sending an appeal, but you will be responsible for your own expenses.
There are 3 different types of appeal form, depending on what you're appealing.
Advertisement consent appeals
You should use an 'Advertisement consent appeal' form if you want to appeal when a planning authority:
- refuses to let you display an advertisement
- does not come to a decision on your application within 2 months
- attach conditions to a decision which you believe don't apply
You have to submit this form within 3 months of the date the decision was made. If the planning authority did not come to a decision within 2 months, you may submit your appeal within 3 months after the date they were expected to decide by.
If you need help filling in this form, guidance notes are available.
Advertisement Enforcement Notice appeals
You should use an 'Advertisement Enforcement Notice appeal' form if the planning authority serves you an Advertisement Enforcement Notice.
You have to submit this appeal before the date the enforcement notice is due to take effect.
If you need help filling in this form, guidance notes are available.
Do not worry about the appeal running beyond the effective date on the enforcement notice. The notice is suspended as soon as you appeal, which means you do not have to do anything until a decision has been made.
Advertisement Discontinuation Notice appeals
You should use an 'Advertisement Discontinuation Notice appeal' form if the planning authority serves you an Advertisement Discontinuation Notice.
You have to submit this appeal before the date the discontinuation notice is due to take effect.
If you need help filling in this form, guidance notes are available.
Do not worry about the appeal running beyond the effective date on the enforcement notice. The notice is suspended as soon as you appeal, which means you don't have to do anything until a decision has been made.
The appeals process
Once you make an appeal, the Scottish Government will appoint a reporter to decide the appeal.
The planning authority must give its response to your appeal within 21 days. You will then have a further 14 days to comment on any new information submitted by the authority.
The appeals process has a strict timetable with deadlines for each stage. Make sure everything's sent on time. If you send information after the deadline, it may be sent back to you and therefore will not be considered.
The reporter will consider your submissions along with the authority's response and any representations made by any other party.
If the reporter considers that a decision can be made on the basis of this information and no site inspection is required then he/she will aim to issue this decision within 8 weeks of receipt of the appeal.
The reporter may need to get more information in order to reach a decision. If they do, they might require one or all of the following:
- an inspection of the site
- further written submissions
- a hearing session (a structured meeting)
- an inquiry session (a more formal event similar to a court case)
Inspection of the site
A site inspection allows a reporter to view the site and understand the issues that have been raised.
The reporter decides if a site inspection will be accompanied or unaccompanied. If it's accompanied, the planning authority and person making the appeal will be invited to attend. Anyone else, like those who have made representations about the appeal, will be told about the arrangements and invited to the site inspection.
The reporter cannot discuss the merits of the appeal.
If the reporter chooses an unaccompanied visit, they will inspect the site alone.
If the reporter thinks a decision can be made based on submissions and a site inspection, they will aim to issue a decision within 12 weeks of receiving the appeal.
Further Written submission
If the reporter needs further written submissions they will request it from the person they think will be most suitable to privde it.
If this happens the reporter will aim to issue a decision within 20 weeks of receiving the appeal.
Hearing or public local inquiry
The reporter may decide that the information they need would be best presented at hearing or inquiry session.
The difference between a hearing sessions and an inquiry session is:
- a hearing session is a structured discussion led by the reporter
- an inquiry session is more like a court case - witnesses give evidence in front of the reporter
The reporter will decide if a hearing or inquiry session is required. If it is, they will aim to issue the decision on the appeal within 26 weeks (if it's a hearing) or 32 weeks (if it's an inquiry session).
Claiming expenses
You can submit a claim for expenses against a person or organisation if you think they have acted unreasonably and caused you unnecessary expense.
The reporter will decide if they have acted unreasonably and will decide any costs that should be paid to cover these expenses.
The expenses claim is separate to the appeal. If you get awarded expenses this does not necessarily mean your appeal will be successful too.
If you want to withdraw your appeal
You must contact the Scottish Government if you want to withdraw your appeal.
You can do this any time before the reporter makes a decision.
Email the Scottish Government at DPEA@gov.scot or write to them at:
Planning and Environmental Appeals Division
Ground Floor
Hadrian House
Callendar Business Park
Callendar Road
Falkirk
FK1 1XR
The decision
After taking all the evidence into account, the reporter will either:
- support the authority's original decision
- overturn the authority's decision
- issue a decision (if the authority originally failed to give one)
You'll get a decision notice sent to you once the reporter has made a decision.
This will include the terms of the decision and the reasons for it.
How to challenge a reporter's decision
You can challenge the reporter's decision at the Court of Session.
You cannot appeal the decision because you disagree with it, but you can challenge the decision if you think there was important evidence that the reporter misunderstood or didn't take into account.
If you want to challenge a reporter's decision:
- the appeal to the Court of Session must be submitted within 42 days (6 weeks) of the date of the decision
- you may have to cover the legal costs and any expenses should the challenge fail
- anyone with sufficient interest can submit a challenge
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