All planning applications have a period of public consultation, normally lasting 21 days. During this time, you can register your support or opposition to the proposed development, read comments made by others, and add your own. We will carefully consider all comments when we decide whether to approve the development.
How to comment
You can find advice on how to find out about local planning applications and comment on them via the Planning Portal. It is important to remember that the number of supporters or objectors will not determine if the development can go ahead. We will look instead at whether the application is consistent with the Local Development Plan.
When making comments on an application, you should bear the following in mind:
- You should restrict comments to material planning considerations (those areas covered by planning policy), as we cannot consider other objections.
- We do not accept anonymous comments, and you will have to leave your name, address and email address or phone number.
- You can contact your Ward Councillor or Parish Council and make a comment through them.
- We will not publish comments containing any discriminatory, defamatory, abusive or inappropriate language.
Read more about material planning considerations
When we decide whether to approve a proposed development, we will take the following material considerations into account.
- Overlooking / loss of privacy
- Loss of light or overshadowing
- Parking
- Highway safety
- Traffic
- Noise
- Effect on a listed building and / or conservation area
- Layout and density of building
- Design, appearance and materials
- Government policy
- Disabled persons' access
- Proposals in the Development Plan
- Previous planning decisions (including appeal decisions)
- Nature conservation
However, issues such as loss of view, or negative effect on the value of existing properties are not material considerations.
Your privacy
We will publish any comments made about a planning application on our website until we make a decision about the application. Please note that your name will appear with your comment. However, we aim to remove personal contact details such as email addresses and phone numbers.
We collect the following information for the planning file and/or to contact you as required:
- name
- address
- telephone number
- email address
If you wish your name to remain private because you are at risk, we can consider doing this upon provision of evidence. You can request this by emailing development_management@bathnes.gov.uk.
Under the provisions of the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, we can read or copy any comments we receive, for the purpose of making planning decisions. For further information, please see our Planning Privacy Notice.
If you would like to keep track of a planning application
To be updated when there are changes to a planning application that you have commented on, you can sign up for our free regular email notification service.