Commenting on Planning Applications

Oxford City Council receives about 1,700 planning applications a year.

Who can comment?

Anyone may comment on a planning application. So please let your neighbours know about your proposal, if you wish to discuss it with them. You can stay updated on planning applications in your area by signing up to receive email alerts on our PlanningFinder system.

The consultation deadline

It is important that your comments are received within the deadline. The Planning Officers or Planning Committee dealing with the application will then be able to take your comments into account before reaching a decision.

Viewing the application

Please try to see the application form and plans before writing anything. You can view these on our Public Access system or you are welcome to visit our Planning Offices.  Alternatively, if the applicant is your neighbour, they might show you a copy.

On our website you can monitor progress of current applications from registration to decision in real time.

Understanding the plans

Make sure you understand the plans. If your comments are based on a misunderstanding they will not be very useful. If you have questions about the development, please seek advice from our staff by visiting the office or by telephoning.

We have a range of information leaflets available dealing with planning issues such as how committees work, trees, listed buildings and conservation areas.

Who decides planning applications?

Most planning applications are decided by Planning Officers. If you would like your Area Planning Committee, rather than Planning Officers, to decide the application, please contact one of your Ward Councillors at least two working days before the consultation deadline, to discuss why you feel there are good planning reasons for the Planning Committee to decide the case.

How comments are used

The application is decided by Planning Officers or the Planning Committee. They judge it against published planning policies and take into account all comments received. As a rule, we approve planning applications unless there are good planning reasons for refusal, although in many cases we make the proposal more acceptable by allowing it only with certain conditions.

Comments are not confidential

Your comments are not confidential and may be shown to the applicant. They will be made public on our website and in other ways in the normal course of Council business. They should not contain remarks that could be considered offensive or libellous to particular individuals or groups.

What should you comment on?

You should comment only on planning issues. We would like to know what parts of the application you like or do not like and the reasons why. Please do not ask questions about the application in your written response. The sort of planning issues on which your views would be useful include:

• Land Use. Will the land or building(s) be put to a suitable use?
• Physical characteristics. What is your opinion of the height and bulk of the proposed building and its relationship to nearby buildings? What do you think of the design and the materials to be used?
• Parking and traffic. Are the arrangements (if any) for access and parking suitable? Do you think that the development is likely to lead to an acceptable or unacceptable amount of traffic?
• Development problems. Do you think the proposal will affect the local community for the worse?

Non-planning problems - matters that cannot influence the planning decision

Planning Officers or the Planning Committee cannot take into account such things as:

• fears that property may lose value;
• demands for Council Tax or rate reductions;
• disputes between neighbours on boundary and other 'bad neighbour' problems;
• existing problems that have nothing to do with the application, e.g. noise from existing social clubs. In some cases, the Council may be able to help by other means, for example, under the Public Health Acts.

Permitted development

Under planning laws, some development does not need planning permission (such as small extensions, certain boundary walls).  No matter how strong a neighbour's objection we cannot generally stop "permitted development".

Planning Aid

Planning Aid provides free and professional town planning advice and support to communities and individuals who cannot afford to pay fees to a planning consultant. It complements the work of local planning authorities, but is independent of them. For more information visit the Planning Aid website.