Advice and Guidance on Planning Applications
Aberdeenshire Council Advice and Guidance
Making a comment on a planning application
The Council can only take into account ‘material planning considerations’ when looking at your comments. The most common of these (although not an exhaustive list) are shown below:
- 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
- Layout and density of building
- 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
We cannot take into account matters which are sometimes raised but are not normally planning considerations such as:
- The perceived loss of property value
- Private disputes between neighbours
- The loss of a view
- The impact of construction work or competition between firms
- Restrictive covenants
- Ownerships disputes over rights of way
- Fence lines etc
- Personal morals or views about the applicant.
Please note: it is important to understand that the material considerations relevant to any particular application will need to be weighed in the final decision process according to their seriousness and relative importance.
Anonymous letters or emails commenting on an application cannot be considered. We operate a specific procedure for handling letters of comment which include remarks which are of a racist or otherwise offensive nature. Such letters will not be considered, and the writer will be advised of our concerns and asked to amend their letter, or it will be withdrawn.
Further Information
Planning Aid Scotland (PAS) FREE ADVICE
Free advice on Planning matters
When commenting, only “Material Considerations” are accepted as valid comment. Find out more about Material Considerations
Find out about how to apply for planning permission, how applications are determined and how to comment on applications
Planning Appeals and Local Reviews (PAS)
Find out how decisions on planning applications can be challenged
More Planning Information Sheets (PAS)
The Development Plan, Development Management, Material Considerations, Planning Appeals and Local Reviews, Enforcement, Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas, Rights and Challenges in the Scottish Planning System, Planning and Transport, Glossary of Common Planning Terms in Scotland and much more.