What is a valid objection to a planning application

The Council can only take into account 'material planning considerations' when looking at your comments. The most common of these (although not an exhaustive list) are shown below:

Reasons

• Loss of light or overshadowing
• Overlooking/loss of privacy
• Visual amenity (but not loss of private view)
• Adequacy of parking/loading/turning
• Highway safety
• Traffic generation
• Noise and disturbance resulting from use
• Hazardous materials
• Smells
• Loss of trees
• Effect on listed building and conservation area
• Layout and density of building
• Design, appearance and materials
• Landscaping
• Road access
• Local, strategic, regional and national planning policies
• Government circulars, orders and statutory instruments
• Disabled persons' access
• Compensation and awards of costs against the Council at public enquiries
• Proposals in the Development Plan
• Previous planning decisions (including appeal decisions)
• Nature conservation
• Archaeology
• Solar panels

We cannot take into account matters which are sometimes raised but are not normally planning considerations such as:

• The perceived loss of property value
• Private disputes between neighbours
• The loss of a view
• The impact of construction work or competition between firms
• Restrictive covenants
• Ownerships disputes over rights of way
• Fence lines etc
• Personal morals or views about the applicant.

Please note: it is important to understand that the material considerations relevant to any particular application will need to be weighed in the final decision process according to their seriousness and relative importance.