How to comment on an application

How can I comment on a current application?

There are three steps to commenting on a current application:

1. Open our Citizen Portal
    
2. Search for the application record using the application reference number
    
3. Click the blue Comment link to open the Make a comment form. 
    

You can comment in one of three ways:

1. Using the online Citizen Portal comment form (preferred).
    
2. By email to planning@staffordshire.gov.uk.
    
3. By writing to: Planning, Policy & Development Control, Staffordshire County Council, 2 Staffordshire Place, Tipping Street, Stafford ST16 2DH
    

Please note

1. Any comments received, including petitions, can be read and copied by anyone (such as the applicant, their agent, the public, or the press). Copyright rules and photocopying charges may apply. If you do not want your petition to be publicly available, you can withdraw it. We will then remove it from our records, and it will not be considered by the Director for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills or the Planning Committee.
    
2. Our Privacy Notice which explains who we are, what we do, and how we obtain and use information in the course of our work.
    
3. No further comments can be made on planning applications or Officer Reports after midday on the Monday before a Thursday Planning Committee meeting. The only exception is information that could significantly affect the Committee’s decision, as agreed by Officers with the Committee Chairman or Vice Chairman.
    
4. If an appeal is made, we will send any comments we receive to the Planning Inspectorate. These will be considered by the Planning Inspector as part of the appeal. You can also comment on the appeal through the Appeals Casework Portal (see the Planning Inspectorate’s ACP Privacy Notice).

What information do I need to provide?

All correspondence about an application must include:

• Your name and full address (including your post code).
   
• The application number.
   
• The site address.
   
• A clear statement that you are objecting / supporting / asking questions  about an application. This will allow us to acknowledge your correspondence in writing. 
   

Who can comment?

Anyone can make comments in support or against a planning application and send a petition of objection or support provided that:

• Each page of the petition is headed with the aim of the petition.
   
• The names and addresses of those signing are provided and are readable.
   
• The comments are material in planning terms and clearly stated.
   
• The name and address of the petition coordinator is included so that we can acknowledge receipt and notify them of the decision (We will not acknowledge and notify everyone else who signed the petition).
   

Anyone can arrange for standard letters to be circulated, signed and submitted and we will treat them as though they were a petition.

If the application will be reviewed by the Planning Committee, we will only accept extra comments until midday on the Monday before the Thursday meeting. The only exception is information that could strongly affect the Committee’s decision. This will be decided by the Officers after consulting the Committee Chair or Vice Chair.

We notify neighbours and publicise all planning applications we receive to provide an opportunity for anyone to comment in accordance with our Statement of Community Involvement.

Everyone notified will have 21 days to respond or comment on the application (30 days if it includes an Environmental Statement). If we get new information that changes the proposals, we will consult again and give another 14 days to respond (30 days if the update is to the Environmental Statement).

If you intend to comment outside the consultation period you should check the status of the application using our Citizen Portal in case the application has already been determined.

What can I comment on?

In reaching a decision we will consider any material planning objections and weigh these against any material planning benefits of the proposals.

Material planning objections or material planning benefits must relate to:

• Policies and proposals in the development plan documents. For example the policies and proposals in the Waste Local Plan, in the Minerals Local Plan, in the local plans prepared by the relevant Staffordshire District / Borough Council and in Neighbourhood Plans prepared by Parish Councils or Neighbourhood Forums.
   
• Other material planning considerations. For example government policy, planning appeal decisions and supplementary planning guidance.
   

Policies in the development plan typically relate to matters such as:

• The effects on people and local communities (including amenity – operating hours, disturbance).
   
• The effects on local roads (including access, highway safety and traffic congestion).
   
• The effects on footpaths / public open space.
   
• The effects on the landscape, countryside, trees, hedgerows and wildlife.
   
• The effects on features / areas of historic / conservation interest.
   
• The effects on the environment in terms of pollution (including the effects of noise, dust, traffic, odours, water pollution, contaminated land, flooding, artificial light).
   
• The quality of the design and visual appearance.
   
• The effects on Green Belt land (note: Green Belt is defined in District Plans and does not apply to all areas of open countryside).
  
   

Planning operates in the public interest so we do not normally accept the following as material planning considerations:

• The effect on the value of neighbouring property (this is a personal / private interest).
   
• The loss of private rights (for example rights of access, to water supplies, boundary disputes between neighbours).
   
• The loss of a private view.
   
• The personal circumstances of the applicant.
   
• The morality of the proposals.
   
• Matters controlled by separate legislation. For example Building Regulations under the control of the relevant District / Borough Council; pollution controls which are under the control of the relevant District / Borough Council / the Environment Agency.
   

You should explain your reasons for supporting or objecting to the application. Refer to relevant planning considerations and any local knowledge. For example, you might explain why you think the proposals do not meet planning policy, or why you are concerned about traffic, noise, or how the development looks.

You can also ask for certain matters to be addressed by the applicant or controlled by planning conditions, for example, to limit the operating hours or traffic movements.

The Government has published a Plain English Guide to the Planning System (January 2015) which may be of further assistance to you.

What happens to my comments?

As stated earlier, our Privacy Notice explains generally who we are, what we do, and how we obtain and use information in the course of our work.

Planning Officers compile a report taking into account all the comments from consultees and the representations received, as well as the relevant policies and other material considerations.

Applications may be determined by Officers of the County Council in accordance with delegated powers (see A to Z of Planning – ‘D’) or by the Planning Committee.

If the application goes to the Planning Committee, we will write to everyone who commented. We will tell them about the meeting and give one objector and one supporter the chance to speak, following the public speaking rules on our Planning Committee web page.