WEHRA’s official website

Planning

A key area of WEHRA activity is representing members’ interests by providing feedback on local planning applications for major developments and some smaller ones where it considers there are particular concerns or issues which affect the wider community. 

WEHRA does not have the resource to get involved in small planning applications but can give general advice to affected residents on who to contact etc. – a short guidance note on the basis for objections is contained below.

Neighbourhood Building Guidelines

Given the high number of building projects which take place within our very tightly built-up area, we ask residents and builders to comply with the following neighbourhood guidelines to minimise disruption to their neighbours:
WEHRA believes that builders must act responsibly and sensitively to neighbours, and these are rules we would like to see adopted in our roads:

  • Keep noise to a minimum at all times.
  • Maintain a tidy area around the residence/road. Skips should be covered outside of working hours.
  • Building supplies should be kept on private property, not on the road or pavement.
  • Neighbours should be informed of scaffolding before it is delivered and large deliveries ahead of time.
  • Pavements and road areas must be protected from damage due to building works e.g., mixing cement, sawing wood etc.
  • Keep weekend working to a minimum and obey laws and individual agreements on hours to be worked.

Current Planning Proposals:

Please click here to search for current planning proposals.

WEHRA Planning Submissions:

Please click on link to view the submission.

Guidance on how to raise an objection to a planning application:

If you wish to raise an objection to a planning application, the following are considered legitimate issues to raise:

  • Layout
  • Scale
  • Density
  • Materials
  • Detail
  • Appearance
  • Relation to local character
  • Loss of light or overshadowing
  • Overlooking/loss of privacy
  • Visual amenity (but not loss of private view)
  • Adequacy of parking/loading/turning
  • Highway safety
  • Traffic generation
  • Noise and disturbance resulting from use
  • Hazardous materials
  • Smells
  • Loss of trees
  • Effect on listed building and conservation area
  • Design, appearance and materials
  • Landscaping
  • Road access
  • Local, strategic, regional and national planning policies
  • Government circulars, orders and statutory instruments
  • Disabled persons’ access
  • Compensation and awards of costs against the council at public enquiries
  • Proposals in the development plan
  • Previous planning decisions (including appeal decisions)
  • Nature conservation; Archaeology; Solar panels

Questions to consider in relation to the above issues (if they are relevant)

Quality of life:

  • Are the uses appropriate to the place?
  •  Is the development fit for purpose?
  • Will the development be adaptable to other uses?
  • Will the development create and enhance spaces that can be widely used and enjoyed?
  • Will the development be easily and inclusively accessible?
  • Will the development promote biodiversity?

Resources:

  • Will the development make good use of resources, in construction, in use and at the end of its life? Appearance
  • Will the development look good and enhance the place?

Do not discuss the following matters in your objection as the local planning authority cannot take them into account):

  • Any perceived loss of property value
  • Private disputes between neighbours
  • The loss of a view
  • The impact of construction work
  • Restrictive covenants
  • Ownerships disputes over rights of way
  • Fence lines
  • Personal morals or views about the applicant