Objecting

What you need to think about when writing your letter of objection

Sometimes it’s hard to know what to write in a letter of objection so we’ve put together some questions below to help you get started. However, we all have personal perspectives and it is important that however big or small you feel they may be, please ensure that they are recorded as they may be the difference that is required to ensure this proposal is rejected.

Councils and Local Authorities can only take into account ‘material planning considerations’ when looking at residents letters of objection.   

Potential reasons to object in order of relevance and importance

We’ve given a long list of reasons below, but if you want to pick those that carry the most weight – use points 1 – 10, but these are only suggestions. Please remember that you can add anything else you feel strongly about.

1. Highway safety – junctions nearby that are dangerous
2. Accidents and near misses, these could involve cars, cyclists or pedestrian.
3. Traffic generation from the development itself.
4. New road layouts that will cause danger or congestion.
5. Loss of accessible informal green space and open land
6. Education – Pressure on secondary schools, as no new schools are being built or proposed despite growing pressure for places. Why is a new 2 form entry Primary school being proposed less than 1 mile from another proposed primary school opposite the North entrance on Hermitage Lane to the proposed new development.
7. No additional Doctors, Dentists or Health Centre
8. Drainage issues – Have you experienced drainage or flooding issues?  Are you concerned that more houses may cause further issues.
9. Layout and density of building
10. Road access – concerns about access for emergency vehicles
11. Obstructions of roads or driveways
12. Disabled persons’ access – ongoing issues with cars parking on pavements causing hazards to children, pushchairs, wheelchairs and people with impaired vision.
13. Noise and disturbance resulting from use
14. Effect on listed building and conservation area
15. Design, appearance and materials – are the proposed homes built from materials that are sympathetic to the local landscape and area and other houses in the area.
16. Light Pollution – The site at bradbourne is often used by star gazers as it’s known in the neighbourhood for it’s dark conditions
17. Noise Pollution – The new site and the construction of the site will generate a significant amount of artificial noise and reduce the sounds of nature.
18. Loss of biodiversity, there is a huge variety of birds, animals, insects, trees and plants that call Bradbourne their home, the proposals will cause a significant amount of this environment to be damaged or lost. 

Whilst the items in the list below may be important to you if you do list them it’s unlikely that they will be taken into account:

• The perceived loss of property value

• Private disputes between neighbours

• The loss of a view, although this is mentioned extensively in the report.

• Ownership disputes over rights of way

• Fence lines etc

• Personal morals or views about the applicant.

Sample letter of objection

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This sample letter of objection has been drafted to help you.  To use this sample, simply highlight the text and copy to a word document.   

• You can copy and paste the text below into a letter, but please remember to personalise it as each letter must be unique to count.

• Remember that more than one person in your home can send a letter of objection BUT just don’t send the same letter.

• If you make your objection on-line make sure that you do not exceed the number of words that are indicated as it may not be accepted.

How to object to a planning application

1. You can email your objection to the planning officer assigned to the application or to planning.applications@tmbc.gov.uk. We suggest that you request a read receipt*.
2. You can complete the online form on the TMBC planning portal.
3. You must include your name and address and that you are raising an Objection