Skip to content
Menu

View or comment on a planning application

You can view, comment on or track the progress of a planning application. Anyone can make comments about any planning application. You do not have to be notified directly.

Anyone can view planning application details, however you will need to register as a user in order to track the progress of an application or to make a comment. 

By registering you agree to the Council's disclaimer, together with the Council's disclaimer for viewing planning applications. There are more details about how we use your data on our planning privacy notice.

How to comment on a planning application

You should submit your comments to us within 21 days of the date of a notification letter, site notice or press advertisement. After this time you can still submit the comment if permission is yet to be decided, but the Council can make its decision at any time after the 21 day notification period has expired.

You can submit comments on a planning application by using our planning applications website. 

Comments can also be submitted by email or letter to the District Council. Comments are not accepted via social media as we cannot always adequately identify the person submitting comments, or where they live, in order to attach appropriate weight to any issues raised. Anonymous comments may similarly be given less weight.

If we receive comments about a planning application that are considered to be defamatory to another person, these remarks will not be included in any reports or published on the Council’s website. This is because publishing a defamatory statement may constitute a libel.  Unless the author arranges to remove it, the original version showing the comments will remain on our public file subject to our retention policy leaving the writer at risk of an action for libel.

We will acknowledge comments that have been received by post or email. Those submitted online are acknowledged automatically at the time of submission. We will not notify you of the decision, however a copy of the decision notice will be made available online at the time of decision.

For a householder or minor commercial application, in the event of an appeal that proceeds by way of the expedited procedure, comments made about the application will be sent to the Secretary of State. There will be no opportunity to make further comments.

What information will be made public

Your comment, name and postal address will routinely be made public as part of the planning process.  This ensures that we are able to demonstrate a fair and transparent process.  If you do not consent to your name and postal address being made public, please advise us of this before you submit your comment (please also refer to the above regarding anonymous comments).

What to include in your comments

When you comment on a planning application, the main thing to remember is that we can only take planning matters into account when making a decision. This applies to planning applications across the UK.

Planning matters normally relate to issues outlined in current national planning policies and in the development plan for the area.

Other examples of planning matters include:

  • loss of privacy
  • overshadowing
  • overbearing impact
  • road safety
  • effect on the character of the area
  • effect on the trees or the landscape

Other matters, which you are entitled to raise but which are not planning matters, cannot be taken into account when determining an application.  

Examples of non-planning matters include:

  • loss of value of property
  • personal dislike of the applicant
  • that a lot of people have objected
  • that the work was started without planning permission
  • land ownership, boundary disputes or matters referring to legal covenants
  • loss of private view
  • matters covered by other legislation (such as licences or building regulations)

Providing feedback on the planning service

Have you used our online planning service or contacted us about a planning matter? We’re always keen to hear about your experiences to make sure we’re providing the best services we can. More information can be found on our planning feedback page.