How best to comment on planning applications
It is important, as part of the planning process, that you have your say on planning applications.
Our planning officers have to follow a strict legal procedure to ensure your comments, as well as any planning applications, are progressed fairly and within the legal guidelines set by government.
This is a brief guide on how best to have your say:
Written
representations
Speaking at a committee
Can
I lobby members directly on planning issues?
Written representations
If you would like to support or object to a planning proposal, you can write to us at
Peak District National
Park Authority
Aldern
House
Baslow Road
Bakewell
Derbyshire DE45 1AE
quoting the planning application reference and file number if possible
or you can email planning.service@peakdistrict.gov.uk .
This is the quickest and best way of getting your comments considered by the planning officer.
Please be aware that by law, letters and emails received in relation to planning applications become public documents once we receive them.
By law we can only take account of policies and material planning considerations such as:
- Compliance with national and local policies
- Design and appearance of the development
- Impact on neighbouring property – loss of amenity, privacy or unreasonable scale
- Environmental impacts
- Traffic impacts
The law states we cannot take account of non-planning matters such as loss of view, devaluation of property or character of the applicant.
The planning officer will consider your views and for applications that are considered by the Planning Committee all planning comments received will be included in the summary in the report.
Speaking at a committee
Under the Authority’s Public Participation Scheme anyone who wishes can talk about the issues being discussed at Authority meetings, making their points directly to members.
You are welcome to ask a question, make a statement or hand in a petition on any item on the agenda. All you need to do is make a request, which we need to receive at least two working days before the meeting.
Please contact Democratic Services
by telephone on 01629 816362 or 01629 816382 or email democraticservices@peakdistrict.gov.uk
You may also write or fax your request to 01629 816310.
You will then be invited to address the meeting for up to three minutes and you may be asked questions.
More information on ‘Public Participation at Meetings’. Paper copies are available from Democratic Services.
Can I lobby members directly on planning issues?
You have the right to contact any of the Authority’s members about any aspect of our work.
However, with regard to planning issues members must be impartial. They have to ensure they are not unduly influenced in any way by one party or another – to do so might lead to an application being deferred or a decision challenged.
If a member does receive new information, they are obliged to inform the planning officer so that the information can be included in the final report. If a member’s impartiality is compromised they may have to declare a personal prejudicial interest and withdraw from the decision making process.
Please note, it is our policy not to forward lobbying letters, on your behalf, to members - as this slows down the planning process, duplicates work and in some cases may prejudice the process.
To ensure we treat everyone fairly - there will be no exceptions to this policy.
All letters received will automatically be sent to the planning officer.
Unfortunately, any letters received after the committee deadline cannot be reported.
The best way to comment on any planning application is to send your comments to the planning officer. This will help process your comments quicker and ensure all relevant information and views are taken into consideration and are included in the final report (for those applications that are decided by the Planning Committee).
For further help or for information on the Peak District National Park Authority’s ‘Protocol on Planning and Policy’ please contact Democratic Services.
