Parish councils have the right to make comments on planning applications affecting their area.

 

The planning authority (which is usually Breckland Council) allows a parish council 21 days to respond to a planning application.  The application will be considered by the parish council at the next council meeting and will feature on the agenda as an item to be discussed.  Members of the public are welcome to attend meetings and can speak during the public participation item on the agenda to give their views on a planning application.  They are also encouraged to provide their own comments on Breckland Council's planning pages.

 

If there is not a meeting within the 21 days, the parish council is usually able to extend the time-limit.  Whilst the overall decision is the planning authority’s, the parish council’s local knowledge, combined with an understanding of the planning process, means that its views are more likely to be heard by the planning authority, so long as the parish council provides valid planning ‘material considerations’.

 

The parish council’s comments can be found on Breckland Council’s planning pages.