The role of the town council in the planning process
Mid-Suffolk District Council is the responsible planning authority for the Town of Eye and makes the vast majority of planning decisions on any planning applications that originate within the parish boundaries of Eye. The Eye Town Council however has an important role to play in the planning process. Mid-Suffolk formally consult the Town Council on every planning application and the views of the Town Council are taken into account. The Town Council provides a local perspective and make comments on applications within a local context and with the benefit of a considerable amount of local knowledge.
Within planning law there is a positive approach that reflects the presumption in favour of sustainable development. This means it is rare that the council’s view would stop an application however their views may lead to extra conditions being added to a recommendation of approval, as a result of concerns raised. The Town Council can also attend Planning Committee meetings to speak on applications within their area. Once an application has been decided, a copy of the planning permission/decision notice is made available to the Town Council.
What is a valid objection to a planning application?
The District Council can only take into account ‘material planning considerations’ when looking at comments put forward by Eye Town Council. The most common of these (although not an exhaustive list) are shown below:
- Loss of light or overshadowing, Overlooking/loss of privacy
- Visual amenity (but not loss of private view)
- Adequacy of parking/loading/turning, Highway safety, Traffic generation, Road access
- Noise and disturbance resulting from use
- Hazardous materials, Smells
- Landscaping, Loss of trees, Nature conservation
- Effect on Archaeology, listed building and conservation area
- Layout and density of building
- Design, appearance and materials
- Local, strategic, regional and national planning policies
- Government circulars, orders and statutory instruments
- Disabled persons’ access
- Compensation and awards of costs against the Council at public enquiries
- Proposals in the Development Plan
- Previous planning decisions (including appeal decisions)
The council cannot take into account matters which are sometimes raised but are not normally planning considerations such as:
- The perceived loss of property value
- Private disputes between neighbours
- The loss of a view
- The impact of construction work or competition between firms
- Restrictive covenants
- Ownerships disputes over rights of way, Fence lines etc
- Personal morals or views about the applicant.
Useful websites
The Government’s Planning Portal
Mid-Suffolk Planning Department