Notes from on high - the Planning Inspectorate

The Planning Inspectorate (often abbreviated as PINS) is a Government agency responsible for settling planning disputes, from garden sheds to motorway construction.   Of interest to rights-of-way workers, it also acts on behalf of the Secretary of State to determine disputed RoW orders and claims.   PINS inspectors may hold Public Inquiries or settle by written representions.

The PINS website RoW area is quite informative about the processes involved, and well worth a visit.  Meantime, a selection of significant documents is given below.

This list is provided for the use of GLASS members.
Crown Copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland.
There's a useful note about Crown Copyright on the web at HMSO

Name & notes	external link	library copy	old versions
Consistency Guidelines intended for PINS inspectors in RoW cases ; a window into how evidence will be treated.		Oct2005	(Jun2005) (Dec2004) (April2004) (April2003)
PINS Definitive Map Orders Guide a 'user guide' to the DMMO process
PINS Public Path Orders Guide a 'user guide' to the Diversion / stopping-up process
PINS Complaints Guide
PINS Guide to High Court appeals
Advice Notes for inspectors, covering specific topics
no.1 May 2006 Conduct of Inquiries into Rights of Way Orders where order making authorities do not actively support an order.			(Mar2005) (June1998)
no.2 Oct 2005 Conduct of site visits relating to Rights of Way Orders.			(Mar2005) (Oct1998)
no.3 June 2003 a) Introduction of Case Law by the parties to an order. b) Legal submissions at inquiries. c) Consideration of new evidence by Inspectors in Rights of Way Decision Letters.			(Feb1999)
no.4 July 1999 Advice on the Definition of "Cross Road".
no.5 Oct 2005 Definitive Map and Definitive Statement - Precedence.			(Jul2005) (Mar2005) (Sept2000) DOE letter
no.6 Oct 2000 The Sunningwell Judgement and the meaning of "As of Right".
no.7 Oct 2005 Mayhew v The Secretary of State for the Environment Lasham Parish Meeting v Hampshire County Council.			(May2005) (Feb2001)
no.8 Feb 2001 Advice on the Definition of Byway Open to All Traffic - The effect of Masters v Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
no.9 May 2006 General Guidance to Inspectors on Public Rights of Way Matters.			(Oct2005) (Jan2004) (Mar2001)
no.10 May 2003 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 - Inquiries and Hearings into proposed Modifications. Marriott v Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.			(Mar2001)
no.11 March 2001 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 - The Meaning of "Private Carriage Road". Dunlop V Secretary of State for the Environment.
no.12 Dec 2004 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 - Vehicles and Rights of way. Robinson v Adair. Stevens v Secretary of State for the Environment. R v Planning Inspectorate Cardiff ex parte Howell.			(Mar2001)
no.13 WITHDRAWN Definitive Map Modification and Reclassification Orders - see Consistency Guidelines instead.			(March2001)
no.14 Sept 2003 Legal Memory (The Evidential Value of Ancient Documents)			(May2001)
no.15 December 2002 Breaks in user caused by Foot and Mouth Disease.			(Mar2002)
no.16 May 2006 Widths on Orders			(Oct2005) (Jan2004) (May2003)
no.17 WITHDRAWN Cycle and horse-drawn Carriage use.			(Jan2004) (June2003)
no.18 WITHDRAWN RUPPs re-classified under the Countryside Act 1968			(Apr2004)
no.19 April 2005 Human Rights codes & RoW processes
no.20 Feb 2006 Inspector's power to modify DMMOs - (covers procedural errors)			(Oct2005) (June2005)