On-line
You can view or comment on planning applications on-line through the 'Search planning applications' page.
To make a comment on an application, please follow the steps below:
- Go to the 'Search planning applications' page (see link in the 'More in this topic' section)
- Accept the terms and conditions and click 'Do it now'. This will take you to the planning applications system
- Enter an application number or address details to locate the application you are interested in and details and documents associated with the application will be displayed
- Click on the 'Comment on the Planning Application' link, which will bring up a simple form
- Complete the form, ensuring that you include your name and address to enable us to notify you of the outcome in writing once a decision is reached
If there are technical problems with using this facility, you may submit your comments using the email address at the side of this page.
Please note that the law requires that any comments and personal details made on a planning application are made publicly available, which includes via the council's website.
Subscription
You can choose to receive weekly email planning application updates by signing up to our subscription service through the link in the 'Do It now' section of this page.
In person
If you prefer, you can view or comment on planning applications at our one-stop shops or offices. Please contact us to find out which office you need to visit.
To view householder planning applications in One Stop Shops 24 hours notice must be provided
Please note that if you want to look at plans for the parishes listed below you will need to go to the Yate one-stop shop.
Yate, Dodington, Iron Acton, Wickwar, Sodbury, Tormarton, Acton Turville, Badminton, Hawkesbury Upton, Little Sodbury, Horton, Tortworth, Cromhall, Charfield, Rangeworthy, Frampton Cotterell, Westerleigh and Winterbourne.
Comments
You should be aware that the law states that any comments made (together with personal details) about a planning application must be publicly available. This includes comments made via the website. For further details you can download the information on legal, copyright and data protection.
Some useful tips when commenting on an application:
- When signing your letter, print your name in capitals below the signature. Before your letter is published on the website the signature will be blanked out
- If you are submitting personal (medical) or financial information in support of your comments, please indicate clearly at the top or each document whether you are prepared for this information to be made publicly available
- If you are emailing your comments consider making your comment as a separate attachment, so that this can be published on the website without your email address
Timescales
Ideally any comments should be made within 21 days of the date that the planning application was registered by the Council. Please allow 7 days for the documents to appear on the web site. It is in your best interests to submit your views as soon as possible so they can be taken into consideration as part of the normal determination process. However the Council does permit comments to be made right up until the point that the decision is made by the Council. Please contact the case officer handling the application for further advice when considering whether to submit comments later than the usual 21 day period
Offensive, racist and anonymous comments
Please note that offensive, racist, discriminatory and other statements that are not relevant will not be published. Offensive statements lower a person's reputation personally or within their trade, profession or business. Racist statements are those that discriminate against individuals on racial grounds including their race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins. Gypsies and other minorities are racial groups. Statements that discriminate on grounds of religion, sexuality or disability will also not be published. Comments that include such statements will be rejected but can be resubmitted in a more acceptable form. Anonymous comments will not be published.
What can I comment on?
You can comment on material planning considerations, for example:
- Local, strategic, regional and national planning policies
- Proposals in the development plan
- Government circulars, orders and statutory instruments
- Previous appeal decisions
- Effects on listed buildings and conservation areas
- Layout and density of buildings
- Design, visual appearance, landscaping and materials
- Loss of daylight or sunlight
- Overbearing or loss of outlook (but not loss of view)
- Overlooking or loss of privacy
- Highway issues - traffic generation and vehicular access
- Highway safety - parking, loading, turning
- Noise and disturbance resulting from use
- Smells
- Loss of trees
- Nature conservation
- Archaeology
- Light pollution
- Hazardous materials
- Ground contamination
- Risk of flooding
- Disabled people's access
Matters which are not normally considered
- Matters controlled under building regulations or other non-planning laws such as structural stability, drainage and fire precautions
- Private issues between neighbours like land or boundary disputes, damage to property, private rights of way and covenants
- Loss of value of property
- Problems arising from the construction period of any works - for example noise, dust, construction vehicles, hours of work
Planning committees
Some applications may be referred to the Development Control Committee for consideration. If you wish to attend and perhaps speak for or against an application at the Development Control Committee you can find relevant details by following the link to ‘Browse meetings by date’ in the ‘Do it now’ panel. Here you will find details and dates of forthcoming meetings together with agenda papers and minutes of previous meetings. Advice on speaking at a Committee is also available in the leaflet ‘Speaking at Development Control Committee’ leaflet