How to comment on a planning application effectively
Here’s where to find an existing planning application and comment on it.
How to comment – the basics
To make sure we don’t misunderstand your comments, we can only accept them in writing. Your comments will appear publicly on the planning application’s webpage.
- You can comment online: search for the planning application by clicking here. If you know the reference number, type it in the search box near the top of this page. Once you have selected the relevant application click on the orange ‘comment now’ box which appears in the planning application details window. This will open the online comment form. The form will time-out after 60 minutes – if you have lots of comments we suggest you draft them in your computer notepad and paste them into the form.
- If you’d rather, you can email comments to registration@southandvale.gov.uk
- You can also send us a letter with your comments.
If you are emailing or sending a letter, please quote the planning application reference number, the address of the site and the name of the case officer, all of which you will find on the planning application’s webpage.
We don’t acknowledge or respond to comments directly, due to the high numbers we receive.
It might take up to two working days for your comments to appear on the website.
Delays to correspondence
Please be aware that strike action is currently affecting Royal Mail services. If you send correspondence to us through the post, or expect to receive a letter from us, this means it may take longer than usual to arrive.
If you are responding to a letter or request for information, to help reduce any delays to your enquiry, we would encourage you to reply by email.
Commenting effectively
Comment early
The sooner you send in your comments, the more time we have to make sure they’re taken in to account.
Petitions
If others share your opinion, it might make your comments more effective if you organise a petition.
A petition should include the names, addresses and the objections or supporting comments of those signing it. It is better to have a petition with a small number of signatures from residents who will be affected by the application than one signed by a large number of people who live far away from the affected area and/or will not be affected by the proposal.
Types of comments
When we decide applications, we can only take into account what is known as ‘material planning considerations’. These include:
- loss of privacy
- loss of light
- car parking
- traffic generation
- noise and disturbance
- character of the area
- Green Belt
- Conservation Area
- design, appearance and layout
- national and local policies.
We cannot take into account:
- loss of value to a property
- loss of view
- personal disagreements
- boundary disputes
- covenants
- commercial competition
- construction disturbance
- Sunday trading
- matters controlled under other legislation such as the Building Regulations
Your councillors
If you have strong views either supporting or opposing an application, you may like to contact your district councillor. You can find their contact details here on our website.
Contact us - Planning
01235 422600
(Text phone users add 18001 before dialing)
South Oxfordshire District Council
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE
