To address this, the D&PA is holding a presentation on how best to engage with the planning process.

The presentation is titled ‘Best Way to Have Your Say’ and will be held on Tuesday 12 November from 17:30 until 19:00 at the Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts. It will be split into three sections covering policy and planning inquiries, Development Frameworks and planning applications. There will also be plenty of time for questions afterwards.

Pictured: Deputy Dawn Tindall, the President of the DPA, who replaced Deputy John Gollop after he resigned in April of this year. 

The D&PA said it welcomes public involvement in planning, whether the representation is in support of or against the proposals or whether the planning matter directly affects them or not. However, comments and objections must be made on ‘material planning considerations’, which include:

• The Purposes of the Law
• Any Development Plan, Subject Plan or Local Planning Brief
• General Material Considerations
• Material Considerations for protected monuments, buildings and trees
• Matters that cannot be taken into account include, but are not limited to the effect on land or property values
• The impact on private views
• The character or identity of the applicant or objectors
• Issues of commercial competition

The presentation on 12 November will explain these and other considerations relevant to different stages of the planning process in more detail. In addition to the presentations, planning officers will be available in the foyer area to answer questions and give planning advice between 16:00 to 17:30.

This is an opportunity for members of the public to gain pre-application advice on whether planning permission is required, whether what you are proposing is likely to be acceptable under planning policy and the key issues likely to be most relevant to any application. Pre-application forms and planning application forms will also be available to take away and advice about filling in those forms can also be obtained.

Pictured top: Inset, the Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts.