Viewing and commenting on applications

It is important to read this guide before submitting your comments.

You can search and view planning applications through our planning online service and you can make a comment on a planning application online by using the buttons above.

Guidance on making a comment

If you wish to make comments on a planning application, they must deal with issues relating to planning law, which exists to control development and use of land in the public interest. These include:

  • local planning policies

  • the effect on the street or area

  • design appearance and materials

  • traffic generation and safety

  • noise and disturbance

  • government advice

  • size, layout and density of buildings

  • adequacy of parking

  • overlooking and loss of privacy

  • ground contamination

The planning system does not exist to protect the private interests of one person against the activities of another. It can be difficult to distinguish between public and private interests, but this may be necessary on occasion.

The basic question is not whether owners and occupiers of neighbouring properties would experience financial or other loss from a particular development, but whether the proposal would unacceptably affect amenities and the existing use of land and buildings which ought to be protected in the public interest, Therefore, certain issues are not covered by planning law and cannot be taken into account.

These include:

  • structural stability and fire precautions

  • loss of property value

  • disturbance from construction works

  • competition

  • land and boundary disputes

  • property maintenance issues

  • need for development (except in certain defined circumstances)

  • private rights of way

  • matters covered by leases or covenants

  • ownership rights

  • private issues about drains

  • the identity or personal characteristics of the applicant

  • loss of view

Do's and Dont's of commenting on application

Do:

  • Read this guide before making a comment - remember, anyone can comment on an application
  • Provide your comments in writing - online submission is easiest
  • Include your name and address, so we can attribute relevant weight to the content of the comments
  • Get your comments in within the consultation period
  • Stick to material planning considerations
  • Understand the Data Protection and GDPR implications of how your data and comments will be used
  • Be honest and considered in your comments, remembering they will be publicly available

 

Don't:

  • Provide anonymous comments
  • Provide a signature - these are not required and do not add weight to comments received
  • Request your comments are kept confidential, or provide information you wouldn't want to be made public - e.g. financial information, medical information etc
  • Contain any material which is defamatory of any person
  • Be offensive, inflammatory, discriminatory, violent, threatening or libelous in your comments, these will not be considered by the case officer
  • Promote sexually explicit material
  • Breach copyright, or any other legal requirement
  • Promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or age
  • Be likely to deceive any person
  • Infringe any copyright, database right or trade mark of any other person
  • Promote any illegal activity or violence
  • Be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence
  • Be threatening, abusive or invade another's privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety
  • Be likely to harass, upset, embarrass, alarm or annoy any other person
  • Be used to impersonate any person, or to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person
  • Give the impression that they emanate from us, if this is not the case
  • Advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse
  • Give any information relating to medical data for yourself or others; this is unlawful for us to process
  • Use any personal names - please use words such as applicant, neighbour etc
  • Give any personal information, such as you are living on your own, you are on holiday next week etc

How long do I have to make comments?

It is important that you send us your comments as soon as possible. If they are received outside the time limit, you will miss the opportunity to have them taken into account. Please also note that they cannot be treated in confidence and will be available to the public.

Can I discuss the application?

If you are concerned about the proposal or need clarification before writing, you can talk to the Planning case officer. Your local district councillor will also be able to listen to your views but will not be able to discuss the merits of the case with you as this may prevent them speaking about the application if it is to be dealt with at a meeting of the Planning Committee.

Details of your councillor can be found on our district councillor page or you can contact Planning Services on 01476 406080 or email: planning@southkesteven.gov.uk

What will happen to my comments?

Any comments you make within the set time limits will be taken into account in reaching a decision. Your comments will be summarised within the officer report, all relevant material planning considerations will be considered as part of the officer recommendation. However, planning staff and councillors have to consider every aspect of the application and all relevant issues and the final decision may be contrary to your views.

Please note: Whilst we will redact telephone numbers, email addresses and signatures your name and address will not be redacted and will therefore appear on our website.  

The name and address of persons commenting on a planning application or appeal forms part of the public register and is therefore not redacted. This is in line with our obligations under The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015. Specifically, under Article 40 it sets out that the authority must keep a register, and that that register must be available to be inspected in the LPA’s office (section 12) and that the LA may make the register available on their website (section 14). Along with this the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 require that when a decision to grant planning permission is made by an officer rather than a planning committee, the LPA must make available for public inspection the written record of the decision and background papers. As such our lawful basis for processing your data under the UK GDPR is Article 6(1)(e) – Public task.

Contact us

planning@southkesteven.gov.uk

01476 406080

South Kesteven District Council
The Picture House

St Catherine’s Road

Grantham

Lincolnshire

NG31 6TT

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