How to comment on a planning application

Find the application and its reference number

Every planning application received by Birmingham City Council is published on its online planning portal. You can search by address, postcode or application reference number (a code in the format YYYY/NNNNN/PA).

You can also spot live applications near you from a yellow site notice posted on or near the site, or from a letter sent to neighbouring homes. Both carry the application reference number you will need.

• Search the council's planning portal by address, postcode or ward.
• Note the full application reference — you need it to comment online.
• Open the application to read the plans, documents and the consultation end date.

Who can comment, and when

Anyone can comment — you do not have to live next door or own property. You simply need to make your representation before the deadline.

Under the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015, the council must publicise applications and allow a minimum period for comments. In practice Birmingham gives roughly 21 days (three weeks) from the date of publicity or the site notice. The exact deadline is shown on each application's page.

Comments sent after the deadline may still be considered at the case officer's discretion, but this is not guaranteed — submit as early as you can.

How to submit your comments

The quickest way is online: find the application on the portal and use the 'Add Comments' option. You can register your view as support, an objection, or a neutral observation.

Do not put personal contact details in the body of your comment — comments are made available for public inspection. Your name and address are recorded separately.

• Support — you want the application approved.
• Objection — you want it refused or changed.
• Neutral — you are raising a factual point without taking a side.

What makes a comment count

Only comments that raise material planning considerations carry weight with the case officer. A material consideration is one that is relevant to whether permission should be granted or refused. The number of objections is not itself decisive — it is the planning reasons behind them that matter.

Points that generally count:

• Effect on traffic, parking and highway safety
• Noise, disturbance or smell affecting neighbours
• Loss of daylight, sunlight or privacy
• Design, scale, height and appearance of the building
• Impact on a conservation area, listed building or green space
• Impact on trees, ecology or biodiversity
• Conflict with Birmingham's Local Plan or national planning policy

What the council must set aside

These points will not strengthen your case, however strongly you feel about them, because the council cannot lawfully take them into account:

• The effect on property values
• Loss of a private view (unless a designated landscape is affected)
• Boundary or ownership disputes between neighbours
• Matters covered by other laws (building regulations, licensing)
• The personal character or motives of the applicant

What happens after the decision

Around 90% of Birmingham's applications are decided by an officer under delegated authority; larger or more controversial schemes go to the Planning Committee, where councillors decide at a public meeting. A case officer reads every representation received before the deadline and summarises the planning points in a report.

Once decided, the decision notice appears on the portal against the reference. If permission is refused, only the applicant can appeal (to the Planning Inspectorate) — third parties have no right of appeal against a grant of permission, though you can challenge an unlawful decision by judicial review within six weeks, with legal advice.

Official sources

• Birmingham City Council — Comment on a planning application
• GOV.UK — Consultation and pre-decision matters
• legislation.gov.uk — DMPO 2015, Article 15 (publicity)