Commenting on a prior approval application

Unlike planning applications, prior approval applications can only be assessed on specific matters identified within the General Permitted Development Order 2015. Therefore if you wish to comment on such an application, your representation should focus on just those considerations that can be assessed.

The following identifies the considerations that neighbours can comment on.

Prior approval applications for larger residential extensions

Neighbours can comment on the impact on residential amenity, such as:

• Overlooking and loss of privacy
• Loss of sunlight and daylight
• Noise and disturbance
• Light pollution
• Over powering and obtrusive
• Alterations to micro-climate

Prior approval application for the enlargement of a dwelling house by construction of additional storeys

Neighbours can comment on the impact on:

• Residential amenity including overlooking, privacy and loss of light
• The external appearance of the dwelling house
• Air traffic impacts of the development; and
• Whether the development will impact on a protected view

Commercial prior approval applications

Part 3, Class C

Change of use from a shop, financial and professional service, betting office, payday loan shop or casino to a restaurant and café; and necessary building operations for the provision of ventilation and extractions and storage of rubbish.

Factors to be assessed:

1. Noise
2. Odour
3. Storage and handling of waste
4. Hours of opening
5. Transport and highway impacts
6. Whether there is adequate provision of A1/A2 and location within key frontage
7. Siting, design and appearance

Part 3, Class J

Change of use from a shop, financial and professional service, betting office or payday loan shop to an assembly and leisure use.

Factors to be assessed:

1. Noise
2. Hours of opening
3. Transport and highway impacts
4. Whether there is adequate provision of A1/A2 and location within key frontage

Part 3, Class M

Change of use from a shop, financial and professional service, betting office or payday loan shop, or a mixed use to a dwelling house; and necessary building operations for the conversion.

Factors to be assessed:

1. Transport and highway impacts
2. Contamination risks
3. Flooding risks
4. Whether there is adequate provision of A1/A2 and location with key frontage
5. Design and appearance

Part 3, Class N

Change of use from an amusement arcade or casino to a dwelling house; and necessary building operations for the conversion.

Factors to be assessed:

1. Transport and highway impacts
2. Contamination risks
3. Flooding risks
4. Impacts of noise from commercial premises on the intended occupiers of the development
5. Design and external appearance

Part 3, Class O

Change of use from Business to a dwelling house.

Factors to be assessed:

1. Transport and highway impacts
2. Contamination risks
3. Flooding risks

Part 3, Class P

Change of use from storage or distribution centre to a dwelling house.

Factors to be assessed:

1. Impacts on air quality on occupants
2. Transport and highway impacts
3. Contamination risks
4. Flooding risks
5. Noise impacts
6. Whether use would have an adverse impact on other businesses

Part 3, Class Q

Change of use from an agricultural building to a dwelling house, and necessary building operations for the conversion.

Factors to be assessed:

1. Transport and highway impacts
2. Noise impacts of the development
3. Contamination risks
4. Flooding risks
5. Whether location/siting makes it otherwise impractical or undesirable
6. The design or external appearance

Part 3, Class R

Change of use from an agricultural building to a flexible use, including shop, financial and professional service, restaurant and café, business, storage or distribution, hotel or an assembly and leisure use.

Factors to be assessed:

1. Transport and highway impacts
2. Noise impacts of the development
3. Contamination risks
4. Flooding risks

Part 3, Class S

Change of use from an agricultural building to a state-funded school or a registered nursery.

Factors to be assessed:

1. Transport and highway impacts
2. Noise impacts of the development
3. Contamination risks
4. Flooding risks
5. Whether location / siting makes it otherwise impractical or undesirable

Part 3, Class T

Change of use from business, hotel, residential institution, secure residential institutions or an assembly and leisure use to a state-funded school or a registered nursery.

Factors to be assessed:

1. Transport and highway impacts
2. Noise impacts of the development
3. Contamination risks

Residential prior approval applications

Part 20, Class A

New dwelling houses on a detached block of flats.

Factors to be assessed:

1. Transport and highways impacts
2. Air traffic and defence asset impacts
3. Contamination risks
4. Flooding risks
5. The external appearance of the building
6. Provision of adequate natural light in all habitable rooms of the new dwelling houses
7. Impact on residential amenity
8. Impact on protected views

Part 20, Class AA

New dwelling houses on a detached building in commercial or mixed use.

Factors to be assessed:

1. Transport and highways impacts
2. Air traffic and defence asset impacts
3. Contamination risks
4. Flooding risks
5. The external appearance of the building
6. Provision of adequate natural light in all habitable rooms of the new dwelling houses
7. Impact on residential amenity
8. Impacts of noise from any commercial premises on the intended occupiers of the new dwelling houses
9. Impacts of the residential use on the carrying on of any trade, business or other use of land in the area
10. Impact on protected views

Part 20, Class AB

New dwelling houses on terrace buildings in commercial or mixed use.

Factors to be assessed:

1. Transport and highways impacts
2. Air traffic and defence asset impacts
3. Contamination risks
4. Flooding risks
5. The external appearance of the building
6. Provision of adequate natural light in all habitable rooms of the new dwelling houses
7. Impact on residential amenity
8. Impacts of noise from any commercial premises on the intended occupiers of the new dwelling houses
9. Impacts of the residential use on the carrying on of any trade, business or other use of land in the area
10. Impact on protected views

Part 20, Class AC

New dwelling houses on terrace buildings in use as dwelling houses.

Factors to be assessed:

1. Transport and highways impacts
2. Air traffic and defence asset impacts
3. Contamination risks
4. Flooding risks
5. The external appearance of the building
6.  Provision of adequate natural light in all habitable rooms of the new dwelling houses
7. Impact on residential amenity
8. Impact on protected views

Part 20, Class AD

New dwelling houses on detached buildings in use as dwelling houses.

Factors to be assessed:

1. Transport and highways impacts
2. Air traffic and defence asset impacts
3. Contamination risks
4. Flooding risks
5. The external appearance of the building
6. Provision of adequate natural light in all habitable rooms of the new dwelling houses
7. Impact on residential amenity
8.  Impact on protected views

Part 20, Class ZA

Demolition of buildings and construction of new dwelling houses in their place.

Factors to be assessed:

1. Transport and highways impacts
2. Contamination risks
3. Flooding risks
4. The design of the new building
5. The external appearance of the building
6. Provision of adequate natural light in all habitable rooms of the new dwelling houses
7. Impact on residential amenity
8. Impacts of noise from any commercial premises on the intended occupiers of the new dwelling houses
9. Impacts on business and new residents of the residential use in the area
10.  Impacts on heritage and archaeology
11. Method of demolition
12. Plans for landscaping
13. Impact on air traffic and defence assets and protected views