South Kesteven District Council guide to making comments on Planning Applications
Following a recent Parish Council meeting public discussion, here is a link to SKDC's guidance for making comments on planning applications:
http://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=14245
When making a representation, it is important to restrict comments to Material Considerations.
Examples of material planning considerations include, but are not restricted to, the following:
- Local/Government Planning Policy and Guidance
- Highway safety and traffic levels
- Flood risk
- Impact on the appearance of the area
- Number, size, massing
- Design, appearance, layout and materials
- Overlooking and loss of privacy
- Loss of light or overshadowing
- Affect on amenity of surrounding properties
- Availability of infrastructure
- Noise, disturbance and smells resulting from the proposed development
- Conservation of buildings, trees and open land
- Relative height compared to abutting List Buildings
- Need to safeguard the countryside or protected species of plant or animal
Examples of matters which are not material planning considerations include, but are not restricted to, are:
- The developer's identity, morals, motives or past record
- Effect on the value of your property
- Loss of a private view
- Inconvenience or other problems caused by building works
- That a lot of people have objected
- Land ownership, Boundary disputes or matters referring to legal covenants
- Private neighbour disputes
- Impact on private drainage systems
There was also mention at the meeting of a petition, and there is some guidance in the article. It should be noted that individual comments may carry more weight than a petition, but it may be useful to help indicate the strength of feeling among the community about an issue.