In accordance with a policy set by the Council, we notify neighbours and other potentially interested parties of many of the applications that we receive. This is done by individual letters that we send and notices that the applicant will display on the site.
Anybody may comment on an application but the comment can only be considered if it refers to a planning related issue.
Comments will be acknowledged and the planning officer will consider the observations. In the event of an application being revised, notification of the alterations will be sent to interested parties. Any comments will be summarised in the officer's report, which will be available for public inspection. Comments cannot be treated as confidential and are available for inspection by the public and the applicant or their agent.
Senior planning officers decide the majority of applications, but if a proposal is to be reported to one of the three planning and highways committees for a decision, then those who have made comments will be given as much notice of the date of the committee meeting as possible and will be invited to attend.
At a committee meeting, a single representative of the objectors will be able to speak to the committee for five minutes. You can meet with other objectors in another room or the civic suite foyer from 6.30pm, so please contact us to find out the names of other objectors before the meeting.
If you have made a written comment on an application then you will be advised of the decision shortly after it is made.
Make comments on planning applications
Lewisham planning service provides the public with a way of controlling how we use land in the borough, what we build and where we build it.
Local and national Government bodies prepare and adopt documents called development plans, consisting of maps and written policies, to show where and in what quantity various types of development will be permitted.
They also administer a development control system to make sure that proposed development conforms to the plan.
The system helps to match our need for uses of land and buildings such as homes, offices, factories and schools with our wish to protect and improve the environment.
The application form and any plans, drawings or documents submitted can be inspected in the planning information office.
The planning information officer will help in reading the plans and if you have any questions that cannot be answered by them, you can contact the planning case officer.
It will usually not be possible for planners to respond to written questions due to a shortage of staff time. The application can also be inspected in the Lewisham Reference Library, but library staff are unable to assist in reading plans.
If you are housebound, phone the planning officer to arrange for the application to be brought to you.
You should consider the proposed development and the site. How could it look? Could there be traffic problems? Could it be noisy? What other concerns are there?
What to do if you object
Your written objections should be sent to us as soon as possible, quoting the address of the property and the application number. Late arriving objections will still be taken into account, providing the application has not been determined.
You may also send a copy of your objection letter to your ward councillor or local residents group. Objections need to be planning considerations.
Sending your objection by post or email
If replying by post please include the address of the site and the application number that you are commenting on as well as your address so that you can be kept up to date with progress.
If sending your comment by email then please include your name, postal address, post code and email address so that we may keep you advised. Please use the contact details below.
What are planning considerations?
- substantial damage to the amenities of residents caused by noise, disturbance, smell or loss of light
- the visual impact of a development - what it will be like to look at, but not the loss of a view
- highway safety including the need for parking
- the policies of the Council as contained in the unitary development plan
- Government advice as set out by the Department of the Environment in planning policy guidance notes
- the existing use of the site or any previous planning permission already granted
- the design, materials and amenity space in the scheme.
What if you do not oppose the development in principle?
If you do not oppose the proposed development then you do not need to write to the Council, unless you wish to add your support.
On the other hand you may not object to the proposed development in principle, but disagree with some of the details. In this case you can write to ask for that part of the application to be changed, or conditions added to the planning permission.
Examples
- to control the hours of operation
- to provide obscure glazed windows to overcome privacy problems
- to specify the precise use of a building
- to require details of boundary fences or walls
- to grant temporary permission to assess the impact and operation of the development
- to grant personal permission to restrict development to named individual.
Invalid objections
These are objections to an application made on non-planning grounds. These cannot legally be taken into account in reaching a planning decision.
The following examples are not planning considerations:
- the loss in the value of your home or property as a result of the development
- unfair competition, e.g. there are already enough similar businesses in the area
- construction work that may cause disturbance
- any restrictive covenants (this is a private matter for the landowner)
- a boundary dispute
- a developer needs other consents (which are dealt with by other services).
The Council will consider the merits of the application and weigh these against any objections received.
Planning permission will not be refused simply because objections have been made. The planning officer may ask the applicant to revise the plans to overcome unsatisfactory details. In the event of revisions or amendments being submitted, you may be notified again if the changes are significant.
Who decides applications?
Small-scale developments that comply with Council policy where up to two or no letters of objection have been received, are decided by senior planning officers under delegated powers. An application that has three or more written objections made will be reported to Committee. In practice the great majority of applications are dealt with under delegated powers.
How to access the service
Please contact us using the details below.
Accessibility
The planning information office is on the 5th Floor with lift access and disabled access. Lewisham Reference Library is on the ground floor with disabled access.