Comment on a planning application

Anyone can support or object to planning applications. All applications are published online, immediate neighbours will receive a formal notification and some planning applications will be advertised in local newspapers.

Grounds for commenting

We can only consider comments which relate to planning issues such as:

  • local and national planning policy and guidance.
  • traffic, access or parking affecting a public road.
  • impact of the proposal on the built or natural environment.
  • design / materials / scale of the proposal and its relationship to its surroundings.
  • residential amenity such as noise, overshadowing, overlooking, etc.
  • effect on the setting of a Listed Building or the character and appearance of a Conservation Area.

Comments on non-planning matters, such as the effect on property values, loss of a view or commercial/business competition can't be considered.

Energy Infrastructure Applications

Please note that energy infrastructure applications with references ending in S36 or S37 are consultations to the Council by the Scottish Government Energy Consent Unit in respect of applications made to them under Section 36 or Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989.  These applications are determined by the Scottish Ministers and not Dumfries & Galloway Council. The Energy Consents Unit (ECU) is responsible for administering the process on behalf of the Scottish Ministers. If you wish to make a representation on these types of applications, you must make them directly to the Scottish Ministers by email to representations@gov.scot (external link) and not the Council.

Make comments

Comments of objection or support must be made in writing either within 21 days of the date of the neighbour notification or before the end of the newspaper advert period (where applicable). If comments are late or are only made on non-planning grounds, they will not be accepted.

Representations will only be accepted electronically using the online comments form below or by email. Any representations received by post will not be accepted unless they include a valid email address.  This is because all communications from the planning service in relation to applications will only be sent by email.

Submit comments online

You can also:

You'll need to provide:

  • your full name and address.
  • the date.
  • your email address 
  • an application reference number and property address.
  • the grounds on which you're commenting.

Comments can't be treated as confidential because they are published on our website. However, personal details such as telephone numbers, email addresses and signatures will be removed.

Petitions

Petitions of objection or support can also be submitted. A petition is regarded as a single representation regardless of how many names it contains. Only the lead petitioner will receive any correspondence in relation to the application.

Community Councils

Community Councils have special status and consultation arrangements for comments.

Next steps

We do not send out acknowledgement letters or letters confirming the decision.  All of the valid comments we receive within time are published online alongside the other documents related to an application Please allow 5 working days for your comments to appear online. We will consider these representations when we make a decision on a planning application.

A planning officer usually makes decisions but in some cases it may be up to a council committee. If we receive six or more letters of objection then the application will have to be considered by the Planning Applications Committee.

Customer survey

We continually review customer feedback to improve the service we offer and the views of objectors and supporters of planning applications are an important of this. You can provide comments by completing a short survey:

Page last updated: 14/12/2023
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