Don’t make it personal

This can be a highly emotive subject but remember to keep your objections balanced and objective.

Avoid including personal issues in your objection letter as they will be disregarded by the planning committee who are focused on determining planning objections based on their relevant merits.

 

What to do

• • In the content of your objection letter, focus on why the application should be denied and the benefits of refusing planning.

• • Provide detailed and well thought out arguments.

• • Structure your arguments in a clear and logical way that demonstrates reason and balance.

• • Consider public interest and how the local community could be impacted by the approval of the planning permission.

• • Wherever possible, support your objections with evidence and analysis.

• • Refer to the development plan, and for each point you make, explain why it is contrary to the development plan and note the policy reference you are referring to.

 

What NOT to do

• • Don’t bother starting a petition, as they don’t carry any weight in this process.

• • Don’t use a template. Instead create your own authentic objection letter that is unique to you and voices what you are concerned about.

• • Don’t use offensive or potentially libellous content as your objection letter may not be published and may be rejected altogether.

• • Remain neutral and refrain from talking about personal circumstances of any party involved.

• • Avoid focusing on issues of land ownership and the effects of the proposal on the value of neighbouring property.

 

What to do next

• • Rally up neighbours to get as many of us as possible to submit our written objections.
    
    
  • Keep in touch with members of our interest group on the Facebook Old Stratford Community Page and Neighbourly.

• • Take some time to look through the planning application and the council’s website regarding planning policies.

• • Your objections cannot be accepted in any other form other than in writing, so give yourself time to draft your objection letter (or seek help from a professional if you need it).

• • Ensure you submit your objection letter on time. The deadline for the planning application to develop on the land east of The Meadows is 2 February 2023.