Planning Permission and Applications

Making representations about a planning application

Making your views known
The publicity will tell you the description and location of the proposal. You can inspect the application form, drawings and any other documents submitted with the application at the Area Planning Group of Regeneration and Resources at South Shields Town Hall or by using Planning Explorer. We are open between 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4.30pm Friday. In exceptional circumstances we may be able to make alternative arrangements for you to see the information. Please telephone the Group and ask to speak to the case officer for the application about this.

You must give your comments in writing, by letter or email, to the Area Planning Group. Please quote the reference number that is given on the letter we sent you, or on a site notice or press notice that you have seen. We will acknowledge your comments. We aim to do this within 2 working days of receiving your comments. Please note that all written comments received about an application are available for public inspection and that they cannot be treated in confidence.

We ask you to give us your comments within 21 days of the date on a letter we send you, or within 21 days of a site notice being erected, or within 14 days of a press notice appearing. We will take any comments into account as long as those comments are received before a decision is made.

Making Representations Index

Commenting on amended plans

We sometimes receive amended plans from the applicant before a decision is made on the application. This may be as a result of a change that we have requested, or as a result of comments received from neighbours. We may carry out further publicity, which may include re-notifying neighbours. In such circumstances, we may ask for any further comments to be made within a shorter period than the initial 21 days.

When deciding whether to carry out further publicity (usually in the form of letters to adjoining owners or occupiers), we will take a number of considerations into account, for example, whether objections were raised as a result of the initial publicity; whether the proposed changes are significant; whether the earlier views cover the amended proposals; and whether the amended proposals are likely to be of concern to parties not previously notified.

Making Representations Index

What we do with your comments
When making a decision on a planning application, we will take into account any representations made. Comments must be about planning matters. Comments that are not about planning matters will be given little or no weight when the decision is made.

We are often asked what are relevant planning matters. These will vary from case to case but they may include the following:

  • Development plan policies;
  • National and regional policy;
  • Any supplementary planning guidance that the Council has approved;
  • Domestic privacy and amenity;
  • Noise and disturbance;
  • Design and visual appearance;
  • Access, traffic and highway safety;
  • Trees;
  • The planning history of the site.

The following matters are usually not relevant to the decision on a planning application:

  • Private property rights;
  • Business competition;
  • Any alleged impact on private property values;
  • The preservation of open views that a private occupier may benefit from.

You should bear in mind that local opposition to a proposal is not, by itself, a reasonable ground for the refusal of a planning application.

When written representations have been made and those making the representations have requested to speak at the Council’s Planning Committee, the Committee will make a decision on the application.

We have published a protocol for speaking at Committee.

We will write to everybody who made written representations to tell them the decision taken on the application. We aim to do this within 5 working days of the decision being made.

Making Representations Index

What to do if you are not satisfied with the service you have received
The Council has a corporate complaints procedure. This aims to deal with complaints quickly and fairly, and to use them as a means of monitoring and improving the performance of our service.

If there is anything that you are not happy about, please speak to a member of staff. They will record your complaint and try to deal with the matter on the spot. If the matter cannot be settled straight away, we will investigate the matter and inform you of the outcome within 14 days. If you are not satisfied, the procedure allows for the matter to be dealt with by our Designated Complaints Officer and, ultimately, the Council's Chief Executive. As a last resort, you can take your complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman.

> The Enforcement of Planning and Building Control