Guide to letters of representation

Letters of representation are those written in response to the receipt of a planning application and may be written in support , raise objections or simply offer observations to a particular scheme. Such representations are normally submitted by members of the public and are often from the occupants of neighbouring houses. The council, as the local planning authority, will take representations into account when determining a planning application, although only if the comments relate to planning concerns (see below).

The time limit for the consideration of letters of representation is 21 days. This is counted from whichever is the latest from the following:

The 21 day period ends on receipt of post of day 22, to enable any last minute responses to be cleared. Written, fax, and e-mail responses will all be considered as valid representations, but verbal, telephone or anonymous representations, whilst they may be noted, may not be considered as a formal representation. This is because it is necessary for representations to be recorded on the application file for purposes of scrutiny and transparency.

If the application is to be presented to the council’s Planning Committee, representations, if received in time for the meeting, will be copied and made available to the Committee administrator. They will be displayed in the Members Room at the Civic Centre in Barnstaple and may also be viewed on the relevant application file by members of the public at the Civic Centre. The council also intends to put copies of letters of representation online for public viewing through its website.

If representations are received outside the 21 day period but before the application is determined, the Planning Manager has the discretion to pass details of these representations to Members. If the application is on the Planning Committee agenda, any representations received after the agenda has been published will be acknowledged. If they were received by noon the day prior to the Committee meeting, the Planning and Development Service will inform the Committee clerk/administrator and request that this late representation be tabled at the meeting.

Contact information

For planning enquiries, contact the Customer Service Centre:

Telephone: 01271 388288
For Typetalk: precede with 18001
Text: 07624 804042
Fax: 01271 388451
Email: customerservices@northdevon.gov.uk

Our office hours are 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.

Appointment based planning surgeries are held at the Amory Centre, South Molton and the Ilfracombe Centre. To make a planning surgery appointment visit one of the offices or phone 01271 388288.

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