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planning-applications.co.uk |
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THIS SECTION WILL ASSIST IF YOU ARE INTENDING MAKING REPRESENTATIONS TO A UNITARY OR LOCAL PLAN |
[Representations concerning Structure Plans at Examinations
In Public (EIP's) will be detailed separately at a later date, but are not
generally relevant to the private individual]
WHY
SHOULD I OBJECT?
Why
indeed. The Councils' plans may be entirely to your liking, or have no bearing
at all upon your particular enterprise. You may wholeheartedly support the Plan
in all its aspects.
The
fact is though that no Development Plan can have regard to every eventuality or
circumstance. Whilst Councils endeavour to encompass as many facets of
development control and future planning for their area as possible, there is
always the possibility that issues that might directly affect you will be
overlooked or, worse still, assumed to be acceptable.
There
is an increasing tendency to believe that no objection implies acceptance.
Failure to raise concerns at the outset can result in the Council arguing at
the next review that your objection is not well founded, unless circumstances
have dramatically altered.
"You
didn’t object to this policy when the Plan was reviewed last time, so why
object now?"
Ignorance
of the process is no defence in such circumstances.
Local
Authorities spend considerable time and effort in publicising their plans and
encouraging public involvement. Bear in mind also that they are tasked with
incorporating the Governments requirements, as well as issues arising from
Regional Guidance and Structure Plan requirements. By no means an easy task.
Therefore
involvement in the Local Plan process (if not at County or Regional level) can
be important, if not vital.
The Local Plan process is not, however, a forum for trying
to obtain a planning permission. The debate is about the Councils' proposed
policies not the minutia of individual planning applications.