Comment on a planning application

You can object to or support a planning application by making a comment within the prescribed public consultation period.

Time period for comments

This is usually 21 days from valid receipt of the application. It may be longer if the application requires a public advertisement or neighbour notification.

For applications which require an Environmental Impact Assessment, the period for submitting comments is 30 days from the date of the neighbour notification or public advert.

To find out the expiry date for making comments for a specific notice you can either:

• Check on the planning register
• Contact your local planning office
• Phone the planning general enquiry

Electricity Act applications

ECU administers these cases on behalf of the Scottish Government. The council is a consultee only.

How to submit a comment

We can only accept valid comments. Before submitting a comment, find out how to make your comments valid. 

The most secure way of making a comment is online through the planning register. This is available during the the public consultation period.

To make a comment online:

1. Go to the planning register.
2. Find the application you would like to comment on.
3. Use the ‘make a comment’ function from the application.

Make a comment via the planning register

Once submitted, your comment is saved in the system and an automatic receipt is generated to confirm it has been received.

For detailed guidance on how to use the register, please read the planning and enforcement user guide (PDF 1.9MB).  

Alternatively, you can submit a comment by writing to us at our correspondence address. Please remember to include:

• Date
• Name and address of the sender
• Planning application reference number (please make sure this is clearly stated)
• Name and address of the site your comment relates to

How to make your comments valid

What to include

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 in respect of land use
• noise, odour and disturbance
• traffic and parking
• natural environment
• design, layout and materials
• local, regional, strategic and national planning policies

What 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.

Multiple comments

Please don't submit the same comment more than once from the same person as only one will count if valid.

You can submit multiple comments from the same person if they are all different but preferably this would come in as one collective comment rather than multiple entries.

Petitions

Petitions of objection or support may also be submitted and will be considered if:

• Each page of the petition is headed with the aim of the petition
• The names and addresses of those signing are provided and are readable
• The comments are relevant in planning terms and clearly stated and understood
• The name and address of the petition coordinator is included for the receipt of acknowledgement and notification of decision

Please note that the acknowledgement will only be made to the petition coordinator.

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. 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 comments.

If valid, a copy of your representation including your name and address will be published within 5 workings days of expiry of the date for public comment, where it will be available for public inspection. We will redact your telephone number, email address and any signatures included within your representation.

If there is a high volume of representations being submitted for a particular application, it may take longer than 5 working days to receive an acknowledgement and publish on the planning register. 

There will be no further correspondence sent to you about the application. You will be able to view details of how the application is progressing and the final decision on the planning register.

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

Data protection and public comments

Your personal information will be managed by the council in line with the General Data Protection Regulations 2018. View planning and building privacy notices to find out how we use your information, who we share this information with and how long we keep it for.