Planning Permission: Appeals Mrs. Lait To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government within what period of time from a planning appeal being received the Planning Inspectorate is obliged to set a start date for the appeal. Mr. Iain Wright There is no statutory period, following receipt of a planning appeal, for setting a starting date. However, when an appeal is received, and provided it is submitted within the time limit and contains all the essential documents listed in the appeal form, it typically takes the Planning Inspectorate five to seven working days to set the starting date.