Comment on or object to a planning application
Anyone can comment on a planning application. You do not need to be a neighbour, or to be involved in the building project.
Register for an account to comment
You will need to register for an account on Public Access to:
- comment on applications
- keep track of particular applications
- get email notifications about how applications are progressing
Log in to Public Access to leave your comments
Visit the Public Access site that the application you want to comment on relates to:
You will then be able to login using your credentials, find the relevant application and leave a comment.
For more guidance view our guide to using Public Access.
Timescales
Make sure that you get your comments in before the deadline.
This is normally 21 days from the publication date of the notice.
Publishing your comments
Starting from 18 March 2025, public comments on planning applications will no longer be published on Public Access. This change is to protect personal information under GDPR rules.
People can still share their views on planning applications, and these will be considered when making decisions. The planning process remains the same, and decision-makers will still see all comments, which will be summarised in the officer's report.
Comments from official consultees like Highways, Town and Parish Councils, and the Environment Agency will still be published on Public Access (subject to GDPR). For more details on community involvement in planning, check the updated Statement of Community Involvement from 11 March 2025.
How we consider your comments
Our planning officers can only take into account comments that can broadly be categorised as being in the public interest.
They cannot take into account comments that:
- represent private interests
- are already being taken into account through existing legislation
You can comment on:
- the adopted ‘Development Plan’ comprising of:
- Policies of the Local Plan
- Core Strategy
- Neighbourhood Plan
- Waste and Minerals Plans
- emerging Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans
- supplementary planning documents such as Conservation Appraisals
- the National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Practice Guidance
- environmental qualities of the area, visual character and amenity
- loss of light and overshadowing
- overlooking and loss of privacy
- noise, disturbance and odour
- loss of trees
- road safety, access, car parking, traffic generation
- flood risk
- case law and previous planning decisions
- climate change and sustainable design and construction
- consideration of what could, otherwise, be undertaken as ‘permitted development’ without the need for a specific permission
We will not consider comments on:
- moral objections
- the loss of a private view
- property values
- ownership
- covenants and personal property rights
- other legislation which imposes controls, for example Building Regulations or Environmental Health (although there is some cross over)
- the developer’s motives, record or reputation
- unfair competition
- speculation over future use
- that public consultation hasn’t been undertaken prior to making a planning application
- the volume of representations that have been made by the community
If you comment on a planning application, you might be able to speak at the Planning Committee when it’s considered. Read the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) to find out how the council consults on planning decisions.