The purpose of the planning system is to guide development and the use of land in the public interest and to ensure that development takes place in ways which will contribute to a quality environment and meet economic and social aspirations.
Our aim is to help you become involved in the planning process. Publicity for planning applications, linked with opportunities for public comment and consultation, are important parts in our decision-making process.
Publicity for planning applications
If you are affected by a development proposal, you will have a chance to consider what is proposed, and how it will affect you. You also have the opportunity to make your views known to us before we make a decision on the application.
To help you we will:
- Advertise applications for listed buildings, developments in conservation areas, major developments, developments that are subject to an Environmental Statement, developments that would affect a footpath or developments that would be considered to be a departure from the Development Plan in the local press;
- write to owner / occupiers who have buildings on land adjoining the application site boundary;
- make the application, plans and particulars available on the Public Register and available on the website for people to view;
- make the full application file available at the Council Offices, to view electronically. This includes comments made by consultees and neighbours. The amount of information on the file will, of course, be dependent on the stage the application has reached;
- take account of all relevant representations we receive; and
- give reasons for our decision to those who write to us about the proposal.
For more information on our publicity arrangements click here.
What should you do if you are affected by a development proposal?
If you are concerned about a development proposal, you should try to speak informally with the person who is making the application (who may be a neighbour) to confirm the details of what they are proposing. You may also wish to view the planning application on line or at the Council Offices to inspect the application and plans, on the Public Register.
If, after speaking to the applicant or inspecting the plans, you still have concerns or points you want to make to us, you should write to or email the planning officer. Representations should be sent to us as soon as possible and certainly before the consultation period expires. This is normally 21 days from the date of the notification letter or 21 days from the date the application was advertised in the local press.
If you are unaware of who the planning officer is please email development.control@basingstoke.gov.uk or write to Planning Development, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke, RG21 4AH. On line submissions can also be made when you view a planning application. Please clearly quote both the case reference number (usually BDB follows by a series of five numbers) and the address of the application site.
Your comments
If you make comments about a planning application, these will be available for other members of the public to see on file. In giving your views you should concentrate on relevant planning matters. It is important to remember that, when we make a decision on an application, we can only consider those comments that are planning matters.
The main issue for us is whether the proposed development of the site is acceptable in planning terms and is in the public interest. Planning application are judged against the polices in the Adopted Local Plan, Government Guidance and other material considerations. We have to consider the effect the proposal might have on others, and on other interests, such as the amenity of residents, the countryside, road safety, buildings or places of historic or architectural importance, and a wide variety of other matters relating to the environment.
To give you some guidance, about what a “relevant planning consideration” is, the following can be taken into account:
traffic generation, highway safety and parking
overshadowing, overlooking and loss of privacy
noise, disturbance or other loss of amenities
relevant planning policies
effect on trees
design ego height/bulk/position of buildings, appearance, effect on surrounding area
inadequate landscaping/means of enclosure
These matters are not normally issues which planning can take into account:
- Loss of property value
- Issues of market competition
- Loss of a view
- The applicant’s motives, character or personal circumstances
- Matters covered by other legislation, including restrictive covenants on land
- Issues relating to land ownership/property boundaries, including the need to access land to undertake development
- Moral or religious issues
- Issuing relating to the construction of a development
- the reasons why a developer is making the application or their activities elsewhere
What happens when you comment on an application?
We will acknowledge your comments within five working days of receiving them. The acknowledgement will confirm that we will consider your comments as part of the decision making process. The timescales for the determination of a planning application can vary as the actual time taken is dependent on the complexity of the application and the material issues raised, on a case by case basis.
We will tell you about our decision when it is made and provide reasons for that decision.
If the person who is making the application appeals our decision to the Planning Inspectorate your comments on the application, which are already publicly available, will also be forwarded for their consideration. Click here to find out more about how decisions are made.
What if the application is amended?
Sometimes the person applying may amend an application while we are considering it. When the amendment is significant we renotify neighbours and those that have commented on the application and/or advertise the amendment.
Amendments to approved planning applications.
Certain minor amendments can be considered after the grant of planning permission. More information is available here.