Everyone has the right to comment on a proposed development that is likely to affect them. This not only means neighbours and people who are most directly affected by a proposal, but also the wider community. Your council will tell you how to make a comment. You can look at planning applications at council offices. Everyone has the right to information on planning matters that affect them, and to make sure that their views will be taken into consideration when councils make their decisions.
Community councils get a list of planning applications every week.
They may ask to be formally consulted on some of them. Community councils usually try to focus on proposals that raise issues of genuine community interest. A series of National Planning Policy Guidelines sets out our policy on nationally important land use and other planning matters. They cover issues such as transport, natural heritage, land for housing, shopping and town centres. A series of Planning Advice Notes gives advice on how best to deal with matters such as local planning, rural housing design, and improving small towns and town centres.