The Parish Council (PC)’s role in the local planning process is to represent local views and should: –
• Provide local knowledge.
• Raise areas of concern.
• Inform, debate, and add value to the process.
• Contact and involve District Councillors if required.

Parish Councils (PC) are statutory consultees in the planning process and must be informed of all planning applications, and any amendments to those applications, within the parish. The PC can only comment on these planning applications in the same way as any other member of the public, however, any comments by the PC must be agreed during a properly called public council meeting.

Members of the public attending the meeting can comment, speak in support of or object to any application during the ‘Open Forum’ segment of the meeting, but not during the council’s deliberations later. However, they may be asked to provide clarity on details of the application during the PC’s deliberations at the invitation of the person chairing the meeting. Comments agreed in the council meeting are submitted in writing by the Parish Clerk to the relevant planning authority. The Planning Authority for Chalgrave Parish Council is Central Bedfordshire
Council.

Prior to the meeting members of the PC will study the plans, forms and details submitted with the application carefully and can request the views of the statutory bodies e.g., English Heritage, Environment Agency, Highway Authority, etc.. The local planning authority will almost certainly be bound by the advice of such statutory bodies.

Please remember that the PC is only a consultee and counts as one opinion. Without advice from residents of the Parish the members of the PC will give their own opinions. The PC can and will seek the views of residents of the Parish, particularly in controversial cases, and will reflect such local feeling during the deliberation process. However, should there be widespread objection, or support, for a proposal the PC will always urge members of the public to send their own individually written letters or e-mails direct to the planning authority (in your own words rather than a circular type, as these are more effective).

It must be understood that the PC’s comments in response to a planning application can only be based on planning matters. Where possible the PC can quote polices in the Local Plan (where one exists) as these are the starting point for considering the merits of any application. Objections should be clear, concise, relevant, and accurate to stand a chance of being
accepted. Whilst the local planning authority must consider the representations of the PC this does not mean that an application will be decided in accordance with the views of the PC. In reaching a decision, the local planning authority is required to weigh up all issues associated with an application and comments made by the PC may have insufficient weight to enable the application to be determined in line with the wishes of the Parish. Any comments or objections made must have a genuine material planning consideration (see below) and matter of relevance to the development.

Material Planning Considerations include: –
Layout, density.
Risk of flooding or pollution.
Overlooking and loss of privacy.
Overshadowing and loss light (daylight/sunlight).
Access and traffic generation (highway safety).
Local economy.
Design, appearance and materials.
Appearance, effects on street, specially designated area or building (e.g.
conservation areas, listed buildings, ancient monuments, etc.).
Adequacy of parking.
Noise and smell.
Landscape, contamination, loss of trees, etc.
Cumulative impact.
Past planning history or appeal decisions of the site.
Central government policy and guidance (National Planning Policy Framework,
Planning Practice Guidance).

The following are NOT considered to be material considerations: –
History of applicant.
Loss of view.
Commercial competition.
Change from previous scheme.
Impact on property value.
Restrictive covenants.
Ownership of land, right of access.
Noise and disturbance from construction work.
Land and boundary disputes.
Land ownership.
Damage to property.
Private rights of way.
Deeds and covenants.
Private issues between neighbours.
Lots of objectors.

When the PC response is ‘NO OBJECTION’ it is satisfied that all the above have been considered carefully and applied to the application under consideration so has no area for objection. However, the PC may make recommendations for planning conditions to be added to the application should the local authority grant approval.

Planning conditions will only be imposed by the local authority where they are: –
Necessary
Relevant to planning and to the development to be permitted
Enforceable
Precise
Reasonable in all other respects

Planning applications and appeals – quick search page

These planning application search pages enable you to search for planning applications that have been registered and determined by Central Bedfordshire Council. The data that is displayed on these pages is updated daily.

For more information on Understanding Planning click on the links below.

Planning can be complicated. With a whole host of acronyms, terms, laws and processes it is a lot to get your head around. When you just want the best for your community it can feel daunting to deal with the planning system.

CPRE Bedfordshire work hard to support local communities and parishes to make sens of the planning and to ensure local people can have a say in what happens in their environment. Following feedback from groups across the county, CPRE held a one-day workshop to bring together representatives from Parish and Town Councils in Bedfordshire, Local Action Groups and community representatives to learn more about the planning system in a relevant and understandable way.

CPRE national and local Planning Team presented an overview of national and local planning issues including:

An overview of what is happening nationally in planning and how it will impact locally
Any updates on the Government planning reforms
What is happening in Bedfordshire including Local Plans and other major developments and issues