Your County - Putting Kent First

Kent 4 star Council

Have your say

The planning applications unit welcomes your comments as part of the planning process.

Comments are invited about planning applications currently being considered.

If you think that a planning permission that the county council has issued is not being complied with, or that permission for the development has not been given please contact us.

Speaking to the planning applications committee

You can also make your views known on an application when it is reported to the planning applications committee.

For more information please download our leaflet on speaking to the planning applications committee.

Commenting on planning applications

All planning applications made to the county council are subject to public consultation.

The views of local residents and interest groups are welcomed and will be taken into consideration when the application is determined.

It is helpful if any views are sent to the planning applications unit at the earliest opportunity.

Guidance on commenting on planning applications

In reaching a decision about a planning application, the council takes into account the views of people likely to be affected by the development.

You may wish to support an application, raise objections or suggest amendments to it to overcome any concerns you may have.

All comments must be in writing. These can be submitted by letter or e-mail to the county council.

The planning application number and site address should be quoted in all cases.

Your comments should be clear and concise and include the reasons why you wish to support or oppose the proposed development.

Written comments are publicly available and cannot be treated as confidential.

The county council is not obliged to take account of comments received outside the period stated on the public advertisement or letter, but it will normally do so, up until the application is considered.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of a proposal before making your comments please contact the case officer (identified on the letter).

Comments should relate to planning considerations.

Planning considerations include planning policies, environmental and residential impacts, highway issues and opportunities for mitigation of impact.

Planning considerations do not include matters such as effects on property values.

Planning policy

Planning policies are contained in national and local planning documents.

National planning documents include planning policy guidance notes and minerals planning guidance notes as well as a number of statements of planning policy on a wide variety of subjects.

Details of these can be found at the Communities and Local Government website (opens in new window).

The main local planning document is the development plan. This comprises the Kent structure plan, the relevant district local plan, the Kent minerals local plan and the Kent waste local plan.

Although local comments are important considerations to any decision, local opposition or support for a proposal is not in itself a reason for either refusing or granting planning permission.

Applications are always determined on planning merits and not the weight of opposition or support for the development.

Advising us of a planning contravention

The county council deals with enforcement relating to its own developments, mineral extraction and waste management sites.

It has to ensure that developers operate within the terms of their permission.

In many instances, negotiation and persuasion are used to ensure compliance is maintained however more formal legal action can be taken against those that habitually operate without the necessary planning permission.

Copyright Kent County Council 2009