We have had a planning application for a neighbour's extension which it would appear most of the directly located neighbours have objected to (including us who face the house).
The Councillor rang last night to say that the planning application process has been halted and that it will now go to a public forum.
Can anyone advise what this is and advise of the appropriate terminology - the Councillor spoke of "over-development" of the property, but as he has advised that each objector will have 3 minutes in which to speak, as a lay person, we won't really know what is expected of us.
Many thanks for any insight at all.
Basically Dawn when a planning application is submitted, the planner will check things like local plan (for land use issues i.e. factory in a housing estate etc), any conservation area, any restrictions on height, building regs and services, things like small extensions, change to external elevations etc are normally approved at this stage. Sometimes however the planner refers applications to the planning committee (mostly for large schemes or contentious applications) which meet once a month and they sit round and discuss the application and its effect on the surrounding area normally allowing the planning officer (against) and the applicant (for) 30 seconds to say their bit. This is then voted on and normally go with the majority. If they cant agree (could be one of the councillors lives locally, they shouldn't but do sometimes get away with it) they refer it to public consultation to see what the response is. Then reconvene and try to agree and make recommendations.
Over Development - Well if you have a back garden that is 20m long by 5 metres wide on a terrace and you wanted to build a larger kitchen and bedroom above and it was going to the 10m long and the width of the house, then this would be classed as over development as in most terraced houses this would be half the size of the original house. The neighbours would be in darkness and would potentially not look very good.
For you if you have been asked to make a presentation, keep it simple and brief points. I presume you are objecting to the proposal so if you haven't already go online or visit the council office and request to see the plans, have a look at the notes that accompany the drawings and highlight the areas or parts of the structure that you are not happy with. I have never done it before although as a company we often have local residents groups approach us and the planners regarding schemes I would guess you base your 3 minutes on the facts of the application, how they would effect you personally and also it may be worth mentioning that you respect them as neighbours although you feel that the development should be restricted for example or reduced in size.
The labour government tried to centralise planning information and the following website has some very usefull information in relation to planning and applications:
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/And after all that I have just searched the following through google:
http://www.planning-applications.co.uk/objection.htmGood luck
Trust in Widnes
Author