Objecting to a planning application

johnebhoy99

Hi. A neighbour had submitted a planning application for a large number of changes to their property, most of which will have adverse effects on us for reasons of privacy, light, security, uncertainty (rezoning from residential to business), etc.
I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice on how to structure a written planning objection - I know what the process is but as I've never had to do this before so I'm unsure of what form or focus the content should take?

e.g. should it stick to fact? Is tugging at the heart strings pointless? Are there certain objections that are treated more seriously than others?

I don't have an issue personally with the neighbours (they don't actually live there so not really neighbours in that sense) and wish them well but also feel they are being extremely selfish in not considering their neighbouring property owners so whilst I'd prefer not get personal or fall out, I'm also not overly concerned as I've spoken to other neighbours and everyone seems aghast at the brazenness of the plans and inconsideration to others.

Thanks for any help or advice in advance.

DOCARCH

johnebhoy99 wrote: »

e.g. should it stick to fact? Is tugging at the heart strings pointless?

Basically, yes and yes....and....the facts should stick to planning issues.

There is no particular format.

Simply list your various concerns as series of bullet points and elaborate on each point (keeping it simple and logical).

One thing would be not to try and use 'planner speak' if you are not a planner!

Also useful to look around on the local authority website (the planning bit) and look at observations to other planning applications.

mikeymouse

This guy is UK based , but same principles apply i think.

Metric Tensor

DOCARCH wrote: »

One thing would be not to try and use 'planner speak' if you are not a planner!

QFT

It will carry more weight if it is your own concerns in your own words.

Even better if you can relate these concerns to objectives you have read in the City/County Development plan.

If there's a few different points to be made make sure to format it in a way that's easy to read. Huge blocks of unstructured text are off putting to anyone regardless of their job!

Angry bird

Yep, put it in your own words, that is easy to understand. Many years back, and I was still pretty new to the job, I was dealing with a planning application for an extension. Looked grand to me, didn't have any issues. The next door neighbour put in a 27 page objection and in fairness it was an entertaining read, and I got an insight into neighbours falling out, family history and lots of other tidbits, but next to nothing that related to the proposed extension. Needless to say the thing got granted on the back of my recommendation and my comment relating to the objection was along the lines of, concerns expressed into the submitted observation do not appear to relate to the proposed extension, which in any event, would not unduly impact on neighbouring amenity because of its siting and design.

General pointers for your one relate to negative impact on neighbouring amenity because of siting, design, overlooking, overshadowing, intensification of use (if its a proposed business) leading to undue noise, additional traffic movements, visitors coming and going etc. having a negative impact on this residential area, better suited to be located half a mile away in the town centre etc.

donalh087

Also if you can get other neighbours to object it is far more impactful. If four or five people object it will be condsidered more.