Important information when commenting on a planning application (Updated 01/07/2025)
Starting from 01 July 2025, public comments on planning applications will no longer be published on Public Access. This change is to protect personal information under GDPR rules.
People can still share their views on planning applications, and these will be considered when making decisions. The planning process remains the same, and decision-makers will still see all comments, which will be summarised in the officer's report.
Comments from statutory consultees such as Highways, Town and Parish Councils, and the Environment Agency will still be published on Public Access (subject to GDPR).
Any matter that you want the council to take into account in the determination of a planning application must be submitted in full. Any correspondence which provides links to other documents or web sites will be deleted or returned as inappropriate and not taken into account This is because the council is not able to vet their content and can not be held liable for any information or material from external sources.
The council cannot retain on file, any letter or other written material which is considered to be defamatory, libelous, or otherwise offensive. Any such correspondence will be deleted/returned to the sender. Any views expressed in such correspondence will not be taken in to account in determining the application.
All comments should be provided by the Public Access, we no longer accept comments sent via email. Any comments provided by this method will be returned to the sender and will not be seen by the case officer.
For applications where comments are supported by attachments (photos etc), attachments may be sent to us via email however the accompanying comment must be submitted via the public access.
Due to the volume of comments received, we do not issue acknowledgements or enter into correspondence on points raised.