Twenty Two Years And Counting.
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I hope I'm in the right place.
I need to write a letter to my parish council concerning the applications that have been put in to build around my local village. Now I have never had to write anything like this before. The village as a whole is against such building applications and we are up in arms about it.
I don't have any idea exactly how I should word my objections to the proposals and would like some advice on how to word such a letter.
I live on the outer edge of the village. My house, although rented to me looks out over fields to another distant village called Hanslop. I love the view just the way it is and I have a wonderful assortment of wild life on my garden because of the fields. I know this will be lost if they let the applications go ahead.
Even though is doesn't affect me there will be money lost on the house here if they build. The bulding companies have already applied to other villages in the area but have always been turned down.
How can I word the letter to them about my concerns. Any help or advice would be grateful.
Thank you for your time.
I need to write a letter to my parish council concerning the applications that have been put in to build around my local village. Now I have never had to write anything like this before. The village as a whole is against such building applications and we are up in arms about it.
I don't have any idea exactly how I should word my objections to the proposals and would like some advice on how to word such a letter.
I live on the outer edge of the village. My house, although rented to me looks out over fields to another distant village called Hanslop. I love the view just the way it is and I have a wonderful assortment of wild life on my garden because of the fields. I know this will be lost if they let the applications go ahead.
Even though is doesn't affect me there will be money lost on the house here if they build. The bulding companies have already applied to other villages in the area but have always been turned down.
How can I word the letter to them about my concerns. Any help or advice would be grateful.
Thank you for your time.
Answers
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Tigerlily, I should check if the Parish Council are actually the approving authority. If you are in the three tier area of local government, (Parish, District and County) then the District is the body holding the decision, any observations from the Parish are purley advisory.
You also need to get hold of a copy of thelocal development plan, because objections can only be made on the basis of breach of the local plan. Loss of a view is not a ground you can object on. Also make sure that enough people actually object and individually - a lot of councils treat a petition as one single objection. We recently had a case where local bodies objected to a planning application and it needed ten objections to get a council hearing. Despite half a dozen village bodies objecting representing half the village, they only counted them as six.
You also need to get hold of a copy of thelocal development plan, because objections can only be made on the basis of breach of the local plan. Loss of a view is not a ground you can object on. Also make sure that enough people actually object and individually - a lot of councils treat a petition as one single objection. We recently had a case where local bodies objected to a planning application and it needed ten objections to get a council hearing. Despite half a dozen village bodies objecting representing half the village, they only counted them as six.
Bit of a tricky one as I only heard about it recently. I have never had to deal with this sort of thing before so I'm not sure how it works. We have all been advice to write to our parish councillors so thats what we are doing.
I didn't even know they had already had the plans on view. Bit on the crafty side that they say they have been on view after the fact.
I didn't even know they had already had the plans on view. Bit on the crafty side that they say they have been on view after the fact.
Good answer, Androcles.
Just to re-emphasise, the Parish Council will not be the decision-making authority - the District (or Unitary Authority) will be (Unitary for those counties that use the Unitary level). The Parish Clerk will have had the application, so you may be able to see their copy. The PC will have been asked for their comments, and they are probably the best source of local advice as to the best factors to complain about in your letter.
The generic favourites are:
Building on land outside the existing settlement area, so against local authority planning policy.
Building on greenfield site (if applicable) - so ditto
Impact on access arrangements / transport around the village
Impact on local amenities which become further overloaded - schools being the main one
The things not to whine on about:
Your loss of a view
The impact / mess created DURING the construction.
Neither of these are valid reasons for refusing permission.
Just to re-emphasise, the Parish Council will not be the decision-making authority - the District (or Unitary Authority) will be (Unitary for those counties that use the Unitary level). The Parish Clerk will have had the application, so you may be able to see their copy. The PC will have been asked for their comments, and they are probably the best source of local advice as to the best factors to complain about in your letter.
The generic favourites are:
Building on land outside the existing settlement area, so against local authority planning policy.
Building on greenfield site (if applicable) - so ditto
Impact on access arrangements / transport around the village
Impact on local amenities which become further overloaded - schools being the main one
The things not to whine on about:
Your loss of a view
The impact / mess created DURING the construction.
Neither of these are valid reasons for refusing permission.
You need to be very specific.
Firstly get hold of the proposed plans. Look at these in the light of the development plan for the area and try and find any areas where they breach local planning guidlelines.
For example:
3.1 The development would not appear to be in accord with Policy H9 Residential Layout and Design, in that it is not compatible with the density provisions, and will impact local amenities. There is inadequate provision for any amenity areas and will make demands on what limited amenity there already is
3.2 The buildings proposed are out of character with the current developments in the area.
3.3. The development will be, at this size, an un-neighbourly intrusion onto the properties surrounding it.
This is from an objection to a development which although granted, was subject to conditions arising from this objection, inasmuch as they had to reduce the height of the roof and create more space around them - i.e go for a smaller floor plan.
I think you get the idea? Be very factual and concentrate on areas where you can see the plan goes outside the guidelines. Also watch the supposed facts presented. I got a planning application rejected once (as a private citizen) because I was able to show that the planing consultant submitting the plans had deliberately mis-stated the area of the site in order to make the room density fit. Once it was pointed out, the planning department checked and found I was right and kicked it out.
Firstly get hold of the proposed plans. Look at these in the light of the development plan for the area and try and find any areas where they breach local planning guidlelines.
For example:
3.1 The development would not appear to be in accord with Policy H9 Residential Layout and Design, in that it is not compatible with the density provisions, and will impact local amenities. There is inadequate provision for any amenity areas and will make demands on what limited amenity there already is
3.2 The buildings proposed are out of character with the current developments in the area.
3.3. The development will be, at this size, an un-neighbourly intrusion onto the properties surrounding it.
This is from an objection to a development which although granted, was subject to conditions arising from this objection, inasmuch as they had to reduce the height of the roof and create more space around them - i.e go for a smaller floor plan.
I think you get the idea? Be very factual and concentrate on areas where you can see the plan goes outside the guidelines. Also watch the supposed facts presented. I got a planning application rejected once (as a private citizen) because I was able to show that the planing consultant submitting the plans had deliberately mis-stated the area of the site in order to make the room density fit. Once it was pointed out, the planning department checked and found I was right and kicked it out.
A group protest may have more clout than a single letter from someone who doesn't want their view spoiled. You say the whole village is "up in arms", is there no local action group you can join ? If not, then why not print off a few "flyers" and shove them into the letterboxes around the village to try to create one ? Two heads are better then one they say, and some of those who wish to protest may have more experience / better ideas. Maybe get a website together as a focal point for plans and achievements etc.
And yes, try to get your representatives at any/all levels to agree with you and add their weight. They ought to do something for what you pay them :-)
And yes, try to get your representatives at any/all levels to agree with you and add their weight. They ought to do something for what you pay them :-)
No - single letters times lots count more than a 'group letter'.
But by all means get a letter organised to post through people's doors highlighting the proposed development and mentioning the points that individuals might like to include in their own letters of objection.
That's the way it works around here - the Parish Council are often instrumental in part of the round robin letters (unofficially of course - a group of residents actually put their name of it).
One of ours got over 70 letters of objection - not bad on a spreadout village of just 400 houses.
But by all means get a letter organised to post through people's doors highlighting the proposed development and mentioning the points that individuals might like to include in their own letters of objection.
That's the way it works around here - the Parish Council are often instrumental in part of the round robin letters (unofficially of course - a group of residents actually put their name of it).
One of ours got over 70 letters of objection - not bad on a spreadout village of just 400 houses.
Thanks for all your tips. As I pointed this is a part of a protest group organized by locals who don't want the development either. This is not just something I object to in any way. Of course I am aware that the fact it will spoil the view from mine and about 40 other house, is in no way a reason for them to stop the development, but as I said I have never written a letter like this before and need to know what I am looking for in the way of objections.
I apologize if I didn't make that clear.
At the moment I am unable to attend any meetings due to a very bad back condition that I am waiting for surgery on.
I was just looking for ways to help.
Thanks again for all your help.
I apologize if I didn't make that clear.
At the moment I am unable to attend any meetings due to a very bad back condition that I am waiting for surgery on.
I was just looking for ways to help.
Thanks again for all your help.
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