What we can't consider

We can't take the following concerns into account through the planning process:

  • Loss of view including over other land.
  • Rights to light.
  • Loss of property value.
  • Breach of restrictive covenant.
  • Loss of trade to a competitor.
  • The level of profit a developer might make.
  • Personal circumstances of the applicant (in most cases).
  • Objections based on race, ace, religion, or sexual orientation of the applicant.
  • Moral objections e.g. to uses such as amusement arcades and betting offices.
  • Matters controlled under building regulations or other non-planning laws, e.g. structural stability, drainage, fire precautions, environmental protection etc.
  • Private issues between neighbours e.g. land/boundary disputes, loss of ability to maintain property, damage to property, private rights of way, covenants etc.
  • Problems arising from the construction period of any works, e.g. noise, dust, construction vehicles etc.
  • The development is already completed - people can apply for retrospective planning permission and we have to consider this in line with planning guidance, even if the development has already been built out. If planning permission is not granted, we may then take planning enforcement action