About AppealBase™
AppealBase™ is a free, open-access web application for searching the full text of planning appeal decision notices issued by the Planning Inspectorate in England since 1 January 2020. With more than 90,000 decisions available, it helps architects, planning consultants, and other built environment professionals access real inspector reasoning to inform better planning applications and reduce the risk of refusal.
Who it's for
- • Architects writing Design & Access Statements or pre-empting refusal risk
- • Planning consultants researching precedent, appeal likelihood, or inspector logic
- • Developers and planning-savvy clients reviewing similar decisions
- • Anyone who wants to understand how inspectors think
Key features
Full-text search
Search the entire text of each decision notice. Results are ranked by relevance, so more meaningful decisions appear first.
Advanced filtering
Filter results by Local Planning Authority, decision, development type, appeal type, and decision date to find relevant cases.
Map search
Search for appeals by location on an interactive map. Visualise results geographically and explore appeals in specific areas.
Appeal references
Follow inline links to previous appeals cited within decisions, with direct access to summaries and the official Appeals Casework Portal.
Location maps
View interactive maps showing the location of each appeal site, helping you understand the geographical context of decisions.
Citation builder
Copy any text from a decision with a single click. The full appeal reference and decision date are automatically included.
Open access
No account required, no subscription or credit card. Unlimited use — built to become a daily tool, not a trial.
Email alerts
Set up email alerts to be notified when new appeals match your search criteria, keeping you informed of relevant decisions as they're published.
API access
Programmatic access to search results and the full data firehose for partners who want to integrate appeal data into their own systems or applications.
Clean interface
Modern, fast, and designed for professionals. Optimised for reading and discovery, with direct links to the official Appeals Casework Portal.
Data source
AppealBase™ searches through planning appeal decision notices issued by the Planning Inspectorate in England. Each decision contains the full reasoning, conditions, and conclusions from the inspector's determination. Data is updated daily and cross-checked quarterly with the PINS Casework Database to ensure accuracy.
Privacy & usage
AppealBase™ is committed to open access and privacy. No user accounts are required and no personal data is collected.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, with personal data redacted before republication.
Your use of AppealBase™ is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Statement.
Contact & questions
For answers to common questions, see our Frequently Asked Questions page.
For any other questions or feedback, please contact info@appealbase.com.