Can I post leaflets to neighbours to object a planning permission proposal?

[ohhplease]

Hi all,

Do you know if I am allowed to post leaflets to neighbours about why they should object to a planning permission proposal?

Thanks

I don’t see why not. They may not be aware. Presumably they are bright enough not to object if they don’t agree with you.

Yes it still a country where you can express yourself like that and long may it remain so;)

Depends whether you're aiming to raise awareness of a local issue about a planning proposal, or just don't like a neighbors proposed work because of potential noise/ disruption to you. The one is a local issue, the other could be seen as harassment. I'm guessing the former, in which case, free speech!

I don't see why not. If it's kept factual - or states what is your opinion - and if you're not inciting violence or hatred or anything like that. I don't think one set of leaflets stating "here's why I think you should object" could be considered harassment? Indeed, I think the reason the council writes to neighbours in the first place is to give them the opportunity to make any concerns heard.

Be aware, though, that there are only specific reasons which "count". So - it directly blocks my light? Fine. It's three doors away and will lower the tone of the neighbourhood? Will be ignored.

You're not the serial objector that lives near us are you?

If so YABVU as she objects just because she doesn't like someone or with the most ridiculous reasons ever eg. someones extension will block her light/view when she can't even see the house concerned from her house .

If you're not her and have a vald point then I don't see why not

This regularly happens round our way. There have been a few massive planning proposals and the Residents' Association (or sometimes just a group of neighbours) sends out leaflets outlining the proposal, the potential effects, how to register an objection, and suggestions of what to say in an objection.

You can also go round with a petition for people to sign (many people ignore leaflets posted through their door or cba to write a letter, but are happy to sign a petition.)

Sometimes residents even put up posters in their front gardens or set up a website.

The local council has a track record of approving bonkers applications, and also a track record of failing to inform residents about applications near them. So people have started doing all this stuff. There are a few residents who regularly check the council website and put the word out. It's the only way most people even hear about giant planning proposals before the diggers turn up on their street, so they're normally quite grateful!

It's crazy that people need to go that far, but after seeing some of the building projects here I can see their point. We're not just talking about someone's conservatory... more like random tower blocks parked in the middle of streets of little semis.

You do need to keep it all factual and not defamatory, though, obviously.

There's no point in them objecting if the grounds are only to do with how it would affect you yourself. If they would be affected but may not have realised then it's fine to alert them so long as you stick to the facts.

Planners will only take into account objections that tally with the official rubric that outlines whether a counterargument to a proposal is valid or not. So you need to make your objections in those terms for it to stand any chance of succeeding. Unfortunately, some very commonsense objections are thereby excluded.

I agree with hlr1987. Organising mass objections about a local issue / development by a big organisation would be fine. I think though if you are planning on getting all the neighbours involved in objecting to an individual householder's development though, then I think that's a bit unreasonable.

KitKat1985 doesn't that rather depend on the development?

It's entirely possible for an individual householder to plan something that could have an adverse effect on the day to day living, and/or property values, of numerous neighbours. I don't think that you can declare the op to be being unreasonable without knowing what the effect of the plans are going to be

Planning applications are decided on the basis of planning considerations which are not related to how many people object and how organised they are.
Basically the purpose of the consolation is to gather information about whether the proposals meet planning criteria rather than to find out whether people like the idea.
I've heard cases where neighbours have written in support of a proposal and it's still been rejected because it doesn't meet planning criteria.

The only effect would be if there are loads of objections then the application is likely to be scrutinised more carefully, but apart from that it'll be assessed the same regardless.

They might thank you if they aren’t aware of the application
Next door to us put in for a ridiculous plan that would have badly affected us but because it’s 2 cul de sacs joined by a grass area only people in THEIR cul de sac got letters from the council about it- so us next door weren’t consulted but people 4 doors away were!
Someone else told me about it and I objected, as did other people affected ( some who hadn’t been informed) and it was turned down Thenk God

"Planners will only take into account objections that tally with the official rubric that outlines whether a counterargument to a proposal is valid or not. So you need to make your objections in those terms for it to stand any chance of succeeding. Unfortunately, some very commonsense objections are thereby excluded."

This is IMPORTANT!

The legislation that underpins the Planning system much more limited in scope and flexibility than most people think, and the Planners are only allowed by law to take into account factors that are considered 'material' under Planning law.

Planners, and Planning Committees, have seen it all before, and making objections that are not valid will simply make you look like a NIMBY and may even work against you.

As others have said, there's nothing wrong with leafleting neighbours or even forming a 'resident's action group' against a proposal, but a good place to start is by taking a long and careful look at this leaflet:

www.rtpi.org.uk/media/686895/Material-Planning-Considerations.pdf