BTW the local cases were refused by the planning department *and* the
committee before being successful at appeal. The inspectors reports
supporting their decision have been shown to be nonsense and in one case
where the buildings are now complete, the reasons for the original
refusals have been shown to wholly correct.

Noted. I would certainly not think the planning system is perfect but it
does seem better than some others I have seen. What does make a mockery of
it is when the inspectors decision is then overidden by the Minister for
purely political reasons. Hopefully a complete overhaul will happen after
the election.