Letting you know the outcome for planning applications

It is not usually possible to respond to questions raised in individual letters. However, we appreciate how important planning decisions are to people. As a result, once a decision has been made on an application, on which you have made a comment, it will be possible to view the report prepared by the case officer on the website. Amongst other things, the report will set out the planning policies that are relevant and address your comments so that you can see how the decision was reached. The Decision Notice will contain the conditions that have been put on any approved application or the Reason(s) for Refusal.

What happens if the application is refused?

Every applicant has the right of appeal to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (The Planning Inspectorate) if aggrieved by the Council's decision to refuse the application, or conditions imposed on a grant of permission. There is no third party right of appeal against the decision. Any comments you have made previously will be passed to the Inspectorate.

If someone near you has appealed against a refusal of planning permission, the Council will inform all occupants of properties that it considers might be affected by the proposal and tell them whether the appeal is to be dealt with by the written method, informal hearing or public inquiry. Members of the public may attend a public inquiry or informal hearing and will be given the opportunity to express their point of view. The final decision on all appeals is taken either by an Inspector from the Planning Inspectorate or occasionally by the Secretary of State.