Planning Applications – A brief guide.
A case study of an objection to a planning application
As citizens it is both our democratic right and public duty to scrutinise any planning applications that come before the council. We live in a rapidly urbanising borough. Not all applications are made immediately obvious to residents. Some are benign and some are positively harmful. Unless we highlight local views and knowledge, some of the more harmful applications can slip under the radar.
On this page we hope to set out the links for searching the list of planning applications in Telford and Wrekin. We also show how one member made a valuable comment on a controversial of local planning application.
The first port of call would be here. It is fairly self explanatory.
In this example, local member Lynda spotted that moves were being made to change the licencing arrangements of the waste processing site at Granville. She tracked the application down to this. This page shows the progress of the application and invites residents to comment on the proposal. Click on the summary tab to show the status of the application. When this was written it was still under consideration, so comments could still be made. Checking the progress tab, it shows that the date for objections runs out on 31 05 2022. this gives a timescale for the comment to be considered.
Lynda had made an objection to the proposal, which must be considered as part of the application process.
We have been advised by a local councillor that the more objections the better, when it comes to defeating a harmful proposal (which in this case we believe it is).
An example objection
Comments:
- Application conflicts with both the T&W council net zero target & the Local Plan, which specifically states in Policy ER7 : “v. New landfill (or land raise) sites or extensions to existing landfill sites will only be considered where there is an established need and provision will only be made for waste that cannot practicably be recycled, composted or recovered.” T&W council does not send waste to landfill, and allowing waste from outside the borough to be dumped / processed in the borough conflicts with the T&W plans & environmental targets.
- Overbearing nature of proposal: the height of the tip is already clearly visible from the A5 & surrounding area & the proposed further increase of 2m will have a detrimental impact for local residents.
- Impact on public visual amenity: As above the increased size & extended use will impact negatively on the Granville country park.
- Disturbance from smells/fumes: The prevailing wind direction will cause disturbance from smells (both from the tip & site traffic) to residents – particularly of the extended housing developments at Redhill & Priorslee.
- Highways / safety. Although the traffic from the site may not increase, there is a potential increased risk of accidents as a result of the additional traffic from the residential development using the access road alongside site traffic for an extended period.
- The housing developments under construction at Redhill & Priorslee have been built on the assumption that the tip was due to close and be landscaped by 2025, meaning that disturbance to occupants would be for a short time only. This application is in conflict with the needs of the residential development. Note: it is assumed that refusal of this application will not impact the continued operation of the landfill gas extraction system and electricity generating plant, since the site will continue to emit the gas long beyond the active use of the tip as indicated in the original application for installation of the system. (W94/0400 & TWC/2021/0951 )
Summary
Lynda made sure her comments were by using a breakdown of valid planning considerations for this case. The considerations she used can by found by checking the advice page from Telford & Wrekin Council – HERE
Using a check list like this will make sure your comments are heard and taken seriously. We strongly urge all members to take such action and keep the pressure on those at the helm of planning decisions. As long as they know they are under scrutiny it will make for better following of due process.
We will post as many of this sort of application in our news posts, as we spot them and if any readers spot one they think needs commenting on, please let us know.