Planning
Guide
to responding to planning applications
Knowing
what's going on
People
submit planning applications when they want permission to change the
use of land or build on it. If you live adjacent to a proposed
development there should be signs displayed in your neighbourhood but
sometimes these are not exceptionally obvious; applications are also
published in the local press.
The
ERA receives a weekly list of planning applications which we put on the
notice board outside the COOP and on our website. This list is also
available in the public library and at various other venues.
We
investigate, site visit and lobby on these whenever they seem in any
way controversial. However don't wait for us, important applications
can sometimes seem minor to someone who lives in a different location
and we do sometimes miss things. So look at he notice board, or the
website regularly and if you are at all concerned about an application
please get in touch and we will investigate. Local councillors will
also always assist and, within Emsworth, Councillor Brendon Gibb-Grey
who is on the development control committee, is the person to contact.
For a really important application then the number of comments received
can make a very considerable difference so if proposed development
affects you make your own representations.
Responding
to planning applications
The
CPRE on their new planning website http://www.planninghelp.org.uk
offer eight simple steps for responding to planning applications. The
site has a lot of detail under each step to guide you
The steps are:
1. Look at the planning application by visiting your local authority
2. Visit the site of the proposed development to assess its likely
effects
3. Come to a view on whether the proposal will affect your interest in
the local area
4. Examine your development plan. Consider whether the policies in the
plan could be used to support your view
5. Decide on your action: should you ignore, support or oppose the
application, in part or completely?
6. Put your comments in writing and send the letter to the planning
authority
7. Gather support for your views from officers and councillors of the
planning authority, among local people and local organisations from
other agencies with an interest in the proposal and, if appropriate,
through the media and from your MP.
8. Speak at committee meetings, where decisions are taken by councillors
Who
to contact
Applications
may be inspected between 9.00am - 5.00pm Monday - Friday at 2nd Floor
Reception, Civic Offices, Civic Centre Road, Havant.
To comment on an application write to: Head of Planning and Development
Services, Havant Borough Council, Civic Offices, Civic Centre Road,
Havant. Hants PO9 2AX
Fax No: 023 9244 6588 email: representations@havant.gov.uk or
telephone2nd Floor Reception: 023 9244 6015
Putting your comments in writing
As an individual the most effective action you can take is to is to
make your comments in writing to the planning authority, making sure
that you do so within the time allowed (which is usually two weeks) and
that you support your arguments with planning policy or have strong
personal grounds for objection.
Letter-writing:
First do your homework.
Or
contact the ERA (see below) to see if we have already done or can do
some of it, it for you.
Refer to the development plan. List development plan policies that
support your case and explain how they do so. Counter development plan
policies that conflict with your views. Explain what other planning
issues you believe should affect the decision.
Consider public interest.
You
should judge what other topics are relevant in terms of your local
community as a whole or the wider public interest. Therefore you should
avoid referring to topics such as land ownership, the effects of
proposals on the value of neighbouring property or the personal
circumstances of the applicant (in the majority of cases). Conversely,
if there has been an identified need for a particular kind of
development in the area and the application does not address that need,
you could comment on that.
Be
courteous.
Be
clear and courteous, avoid personal issues and concentrate on the facts
of the case. Separate out each point you wish to make. Explain what you
want to happen and, where appropriate, suggest suitable conditions you
would like to see imposed if the application is permitted. Try to be
concise.
Get
comments in on time.
You'll
generally have two weeks to respond to a planning application. If at
all possible, get your comments in before the deadline. If this is
impossible, send a short letter summarising your views within the
deadline and follow it up later with more detailed comments. These
comments may be taken into account, particularly if your views don't
cause any delay in the decision, but you cannot rely on this.
You may wish to approach the applicant to try to persuade him or her to
improve the application. You could do so before or after you write your
letter.
Help
the ERA respond to planning applications
Planning
Applications are coming in all the time. Some weeks there is nothing
more than a couple of conservatories which nobody opposes and we have
nothing to do except publish them, other weeks we can get two or three
major development proposals and have to rush around trying to find out
all the details. That's when we need help, so if you can assist by
viewing applications, sites or doing background research then please get in touch.
You can contact any member of the committee. The following ERA
committee members are those most involved in working with planning
applications, their addresses and telephone numbers can be found on the
Committee listing page
The planning group consists of: Denys Riley (co-ordinator), Howard
Harding, Richard Jannaway (Editor of the-EMS) Frances Jannaway
(Specialises in Tree Preservation Orders and the natural environment)
Many thanks
to the CPRE for material included in this article, which was taken from
their great new website. Visit the site
for far more
comprehensive information.