FOI or EIR for Planning Information - London Guide

Land Use and Zoning England 4 Minutes Read · published February 02, 2026 Flag of England

In London, England you can request planning records, applications and decision documents from the local planning authority under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. Requests under the Freedom of Information Act must be answered within 20 working days according to the statutory timetable, Freedom of Information Act 2000 s10[1]. Environmental information requests are likewise subject to a 20 working day limit under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 regulation 5[2].

Scope and when to use FOI vs EIR

Use FOI for general recorded information held by a public authority; use EIR when the information qualifies as environmental (for planning this often includes reports, assessments, maps and decision documents). If in doubt, state whether you consider the request to be for environmental information and name the documents or data you want. Indicate a preferred format (digital copy is usual) and provide contact details for correspondence.

Penalties & Enforcement

Fine amounts for failure to comply with FOI or EIR are not specified on the cited pages; enforcement primarily uses notices and regulatory action rather than fixed statutory fines on the relevant pages cited below ICO complaints and enforcement[3].

  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page.
  • Escalation: initial refusal or exemption reliance, repeated refusal or failure to comply may lead to ICO investigation and enforcement notices; specific penalty schedules are not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: enforcement notices, decision notices and court actions are the commonly used remedies; exact remedies and thresholds are not specified on the cited page.
  • Enforcer and complaints pathway: the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) oversees compliance and accepts complaints from applicants; local planning authorities administer initial requests and internal reviews.
  • Appeals and review: request an internal review from the authority first, then complain to the ICO; time limits and procedures are set out on the ICO complaints page linked above.
If a council refuses release, request an internal review promptly and prepare to appeal to the ICO.

Applications & Forms

There is no single national form required for FOI or EIR planning requests; most London borough planning departments provide an online request form or accept written requests by email or post. Authorities may charge a reasonable fee for EIR responses or apply FOI cost limits in line with their published charging policies; where specific forms, fees or fee codes exist they are published on the local authority planning pages.

Check the target borough’s planning pages for an online request or subject access guidance before submitting.

How requests are processed

  • Day 0: authority acknowledges and logs the request.
  • Up to 20 working days: authority assesses, searches records and decides on disclosure under FOI or EIR.
  • If exemptions or exceptions are claimed, the authority should explain grounds and any public interest test applied.
  • If a reasonable fee is payable under EIR or FOI fees regulations, the authority will state the amount and payment method.

Common violations and typical outcomes

  • Failure to respond within time - outcome: internal review and ICO complaint, possible enforcement notice (amounts not specified on cited pages).
  • Wrongly withholding planning reports - outcome: ICO decision notice ordering disclosure or partial disclosure.
  • Incomplete record searches - outcome: direction to re-run searches and disclose withheld records where appropriate.

Action steps

  • Identify the local planning authority for the site and the specific documents you want (application number, address, file names).
  • Send a clear written request by email or the council’s online FOI/EIR form, state whether you rely on FOI or EIR and give contact details.
  • Note the request date and expect a response within 20 working days.
  • If refused, ask for an internal review and, if still dissatisfied, complain to the ICO.

FAQ

How long does a council have to respond to my planning information request?
In most cases the council must respond within 20 working days for FOI and for EIR requests.
Do I have to pay to get planning documents?
Authorities may charge under EIR or apply FOI cost limits for large requests; councils publish their charging policies on their planning pages.
Who enforces FOI/EIR if a council refuses to disclose?
You can request an internal review and then complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office for investigation and enforcement.

How-To

  1. Locate the local planning authority responsible for the site and note application numbers or addresses.
  2. Draft a clear written request describing the documents or data you want and state FOI or EIR as applicable.
  3. Submit via the council’s online form or by email/post and retain proof of submission.
  4. Wait up to 20 working days; if refused, request an internal review from the authority.
  5. If the issue remains unresolved, complain to the ICO and include your request, refusal and internal review correspondence.

Key Takeaways

  • FOI and EIR planning requests are usually decided within 20 working days.
  • Start with the local planning authority; escalate to the ICO if internal review is unsatisfactory.

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