Has anyone used a consultancy to challenge a planning application?

[rbe78]

Hi all - as the title says really. There is a planning application currently under consideration for a quite significant housing development around our house and garden. We would like to object to certain elements of this - I've read up on what objections are allowable, and we have a few valid concerns around privacy, light and sanitation.

Has anyone used a consultancy to help write an objection/comment to a planning application? Did it help/make a difference? How expensive was it? And any recommendations for companies? I was looking at iObject.

Thanks in advance :-)

Why do you think you need a consultant, though? Just write it yourself. No specialist knowledge required once you've familiarised yourself with what grounds for objection are valid ones, as you have.

The more submissions the better, so mobilise your neighbours/ residents' association or whatever.

I fought three different iterations of the same ill-conceived development beside my garden on the edge of the village with a group of neighbours, and while the planning application was sent back twice to have things we'd raised addressed, we lost the third time and the development went ahead. BUT much reduced from 148 houses to 78, and all the houses on the edge of the development adjoining existing houses replaced with bungalows so as not to encroach on the privacy and light of existing houses.

I guess that's what I'm asking - is it worth it? My thinking is they would know exactly what you can and can't validly object on, and would have the experience to look at the application and raise objections we hadn't thought of.

If you do use one, use a local consultant familiar with the local area and the policies involved. Have a look at the RTPI website to see if there are any planning consultants local to you.

Well, as I said, the only times I've objected to planning applications, I've done it myself. You can look up other applications on your local council's planning portal to see how other people have raised objections, if you just want help phrasing it.

The only other thing that is helpful is looking at planning guidelines for your area, and things like if there's a neighbourhood development plan/city development plan, and you think the development being proposed contravenes key elements of that.