Comment on planning applications

You can make comments to object or support a planning application within the prescribed public consultation period:

Time period for comment

You can make comments within the prescribed public consultation period. This period is usually 21 days from valid receipt of the application. It may be longer if the application requires a public advertisement or neighbour notification.

Each planning application on the planning register displays expiry date for making comments. You can also contact your local planning office to find out the expiry date for a specific notice.

What to include in a comment

Please provide your full name and full address in the comment, as we can't consider anonymous letters or emails.

To be valid, your comment should state clearly why you think we should or should not grant planning permission, clearly stating within your comments where you support or object to the proposal. It also needs to raise a valid material consideration such as positive or negative impacts on:

  • light received
  • privacy and amenity
  • appearance of area
  • conservation area
  • setting or character of a listed building
  • built heritage
  • previous planning decisions
  • noise, odour and disturbance
  • traffic and parking
  • natural environment
  • design, layout and materials
  • local, regional, strategic and national planning policies

Comments we won't accept

We can't take into account matters which are sometimes raised but are not normally planning considerations such as:

  • Perceived loss of private view
  • Devaluation in property value
  • Building regulation matters
  • Personal views about the applicant
  • Disputes regarding boundary ownership

We can't accept comments which include inappropriate or offensive remarks. Such comments will not be considered, the writer will be advised of our concerns and asked to amend their letter, or it will be withdrawn.

The material considerations relevant to any particular application will need to be weighed in the final decision process according to their seriousness and relative importance.

It should be noted, where you state you write in “support” or “objection” to the proposal, your comments shall be treated as stated. Whether additional or contrary points are then raised, these will still be considered but will not alter the overarching “support” or “objection” stated in your representation.

How to submit a comment

You can submit a comment on a planning application:

When sending your comment by email or paper, please clearly indicate the reference number, name and address of the site your comment relates to.

What happens to your comment

We will assess your comment to make sure that it contains the necessary full name and address, and no defamatory comments. You should receive a response within 5 working days of receipt, and if you have raised material planning considerations, we will aim to publish it on the planning register to make it available for public inspection within 5 working days from the “expiry date for comment”.

Please note that a copy of your representation, where valid, including your name and address will be published on the Planning Register within 5 workings days of expiry of the date for public comment, where it will be available for public inspection. In publishing your representation, we will redact your telephone number, email address and any signatures included within your representation.

There will be no further correspondence sent to you with regard to the application however details of how the application is progressing and the final decision can be viewed on the online Planning Register.

Your personal information will be managed by the council in accordance with the principles set out in the General Data Protection Regulations 2018. Further information on how we use your information, who we share this information with and how long we keep information is detailed in our privacy notices.

Following a site visit, the planning officer will consider the comments and judge the proposal against the relevant council policies before making a recommendation.