Comment on a planning application

Once you've found a planning application, you can make a comment.

Comments must include:

• the planning reference number
• your name and full postal address (if these details are not given we will not consider your comments and they will not be published on our website)
• the date

If you need help in understanding the plans, please email us. We will not discuss our assessment of the proposals with you at this stage.

Ways to comment

Online

If you live in the Eden or South Lakeland areas, you can comment online through our planning register.

You can search for the application you want to comment on, planning reference number or address.

Commenting by email or post

You can send a comment to the our planning teams for the area you live in or for minerals and waste applications.

Former Barrow Borough Council area:
Email: planning1@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Post: Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow in Furness LA14 9SR

Former Eden District Council area:
Email: planning2@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Post: Voreda House, Portland Place, Penrith CA11 7BF

Former South Lakeland District Council area:
Email: planning3@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Post: South Lakeland House, Lowther Street, Kendal LA9 4DL

Minerals and Waste planning:
Email: MWplanning@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Post: South Lakeland House, Lowther Street, Kendal LA9 4DQ

If you send a comment online or by email, please do not send a duplicate copy by post. Electronic comments carry as much weight as written comments and we process them in the same way.

Personal details

Planning applications are public documents and your comments, including personal details, will form part of the planning application file and are available for other people to read.

We will publish your comments on our website.

Before we do this we will remove your signature, telephone number and email address. Your name and address will not be removed. It may be possible for others to browse your name and address through online search engines.

The council has the same legal responsibilities as any other publisher when publishing comments/responses on our website. In view of this, please follow the criteria:

• do not refer to the personal character or motives of the applicant/s
• do not make any abusive or malicious comments
• do not mention hearsay or rumour
• do not use defamatory, slanderous or libellous language

We may decide not publish any such comments on our website. We will not take those specified comments into account when making a decision on an application. Comments will be held on the council’s electronic filing system and will remain public documents available to view at reception on request.

Extreme examples of unacceptable observations will be returned to you.

If you wish to look at the "Working File" to view either un-redacted or unpublished comments, please contact us to arrange this. The full electronic file will then be available to view on a computer screen in our reception areas. Please note, we don't hold paper files.

We aim to publish acceptable comments on our website within 10 days of receipt.

Make an effective comment

Keep your letter short, legible and to the point.

Send your letter before the deadline date.

Petitions

Local communities may wish to register their comments about a development with a petition. This is an acceptable method of communication.  However, please note that the reasons for the petition (usually the front cover) will be published, but subsequent pages with signatures will not. We will include a tally of those who have signed the petition.

Comments that can be taken into account

• loss of privacy
• overshadowing
• design
• highway safety
• traffic and parking
• noise (from the proposed use, not building works during construction)
• incompatible uses
• scale of development
• appearance of development
• wildlife
• trees
• flooding
• effect on conservation areas and/or listed buildings 

Comments that cannot be taken into account

• personal issues with neighbours
• loss of private views
• business competition
• noise or disturbance during building operations
• property devaluation
• private covenants
• boundary disputes
• impact of private rights of access  

Comment in good time

• the deadline for comments is 21 days from the date on the letter/ publicity notifying you about the application
• however, all comments received up until the decision is made will be considered
• if comments are made after the 21 day deadline and a decision has already been made, your comments will not be taken into consideration
• it is advisable to make your comments as soon as possible
• if you make your comments online or by email you will receive an automated response. We do not acknowledge receipt of comments sent by post

Decision-making and planning committee

• Minor applications are generally determined under delegated powers as set in the scheme of delegation. The Strategic or Area planning committee makes decisions on applications under certain other circumstances as detailed in the Councils delegation scheme.
• For those applications determined by committee, member of the public will be allowed to speak if they have registered for their right to speak.

Development management - statement of community involvement

We are obliged to follow the requirements of the Planning Acts and assess an application in accordance with the local policies, unless there are other overriding material planning considerations.

Planning policy

We are required to act positively and to make planning proposals acceptable. We must also include a statement in the decision notice explaining how we have dealt with the planning application in a positive and proactive way based on seeking solutions to problems that may have arisen with the planning application.

Public participation schemes

All decisions are published on our website.

It is your responsibility to monitor the progress of an application and to find out whether or not it is to be heard by the planning committee.

Timescales for planning decisions

• we have a deadline of eight weeks to determine most planning applications
• more complex applications have a deadline of 13 or 16 weeks
• if we do not issue a decision within these timescales the applicant may appeal against non-determination
• in such circumstances the decision would then be made by the Planning Inspectorate rather than us

Process after decision

If permission is granted

The decision may include conditions that the applicant must comply with.

There is no process for neighbours or other third parties to appeal against our decision.

If permission is refused

Applicants may either resubmit another planning application for an alternative scheme or appeal a planning decision.