Prior approval appeals: form and guidance
Application form to make an appeal if you are refused prior planning approval.
You have the right to make a prior approval appeal to Scottish Ministers where a planning authority:
- refuses prior approval
Some proposals for development, such as telecommunications, demolition, agriculture and forestry are subject to a procedure called prior notification and must be notified to a local planning authority before the development takes place. The authority will determine whether 'prior approval' is or is not needed.
Your appeal must be made within three months after the issue of the planning authority's decision. Appeals made after this cannot be considered. You must also send a copy of the appeal to the relevant planning authority.
Fees for this type of planning appeal were introduced on 9 June 2025.
For more information, see Planning Circular 3/2025 - Fees for Local Reviews and Appeals - gov.scot and The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2025
Refund policy statement
In accordance with the above Circular and Regulation refunds will only be considered under the following circumstances:
- Duplicate Payments: Where the same fee has been paid more than once for the same appeal.
- Overpayments: Where the amount paid exceeds the correct fee as calculated under the applicable category of development.
- No Jurisdiction: Where it is determined that the appeal falls outside the scope of the Scottish Ministers’ jurisdiction under the relevant planning legislation.
Please note:
Refunds will not be issued for payments that were correctly made and the case was subsequently withdrawn. Once a valid payment has been processed, it is considered final unless it meets one of the conditions outlined above.
See here for Fee Calculator.
Everybody who participates in the process is normally expected to cover their own expenses.
This appeal can also be made using the eplanning portal.
You can track the progress of your appeal online.
More information
This form and guidance relates to appeals made under:
- Section 47 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and
- the Town and Country Planning (Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2013
Planning Circular 2/2015: Consolidated Circular on Non-domestic Permitted Development Rights provides context for this specific appeal.
A guide to planning appeals explains what can be appealed to ministers and provides context for our appeals forms.
There is guidance for submitting documents electronically which has information on how to submit your appeal and any supporting information in electronic format.
Contact
Email: DPEA@gov.scot
Telephone: 0300 244 6668
Post:
Planning and Environmental Appeals Division
Hadrian House
Callendar Business Park
Falkirk
FK1 1XR