You can comment on a planning application during the public consultation period.
Comments received before the deadline will be considered when the application is assessed.
Comments submitted after the consultation period has ended may still be accepted if a decision has not yet been made. However, there is no guarantee they will be taken into account.
You can search the planning register to view applications and supporting documents.
How to comment
If you would like to comment on a planning application, please follow the steps below:
- search for the planning application
- read the application plans and documents
- submit your comments before the consultation deadline
Please submit your comments only once. If you send the same comment more than once, for example online and by email, it will be counted as a single comment.
What to comment on
We can only consider comments about planning issues.
Examples include:
- loss of privacy or overlooking
- noise and disturbance
- traffic and parking
- road safety
- the size, appearance or design of the development
- impacts on listed buildings or conservation areas
- flooding and drainage
- impacts on trees, wildlife or the environment
- whether the proposal follows local and national planning policies
What we cannot consider
We cannot take account of:
- property values
- private disputes between neighbours
- land ownership issues
- business competition
- the personal circumstances of the applicant
- personal opinions about the applicant or anyone involved in the application
Please focus your comments on planning issues rather than the people involved.
Before you submit your comments
Planning applications and comments are publicly available.
Comments are normally published on the planning register and may be viewed by:
- the applicant
- planning officers
- councillors
- organisations we consult
- members of the public
To protect personal information, we will normally remove:
- signatures
- telephone numbers
- email addresses
- other personal information that is not relevant to the application
Your name and address may form part of the public planning record where required by law.
For further information about how we use your personal information, please read our Privacy Notice.
Comments we may not publish
The council has the same legal responsibilities as any other publisher when publishing information online.
Please make sure your comments:
- focus on planning issues
- do not refer to the personal character or motives of the applicant or any other individual
- do not contain abusive, offensive or malicious comments
- do not include rumours or hearsay
- do not contain defamatory, slanderous or libellous statements
We may refuse to publish, or remove, comments that do not meet these requirements.
The Council is not required to contact contributors to request amendments, revised wording or resubmission of comments.
What happens next
Your comments will be checked before they are published.
We aim to publish suitable comments within 10 working days of receiving them.
A planning officer will read all relevant comments when assessing the application.
We receive a large number of comments and cannot reply individually to every comment or question.
We do not normally contact contributors when a decision has been made.
You can follow the progress of an application and view the final decision on the planning register.
Planning appeals
If an application was submitted on or after 1 April 2026, this consultation period may be your only opportunity to comment on the proposal.
This includes cases where the application is later appealed.
Further information about planning appeals is available from the Planning Inspectorate.
Contact us
Email: planning4@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Post: Planning Services, South Lakeland House, Lowther Street, Kendal, LA9 4DL
Telephone: 0300 373 3300