Comment on an application

How to comment or object to a planning applications

You can comment or object in several ways:

What sort of comments can we accept?

Under planning law, we can only take into account comments on planning issues which include the loss of light or privacy, highway safety, traffic and parking issues, noise, amenity, pollution, historic buildings, conservation, wildlife, design and appearance of the development.

Any comments made must not contain language that is inappropriate, discriminatory, abusive or malicious. The Council disassociates itself from any comments made of a libelous or otherwise offensive nature.

For further information please refer to Publishing representations online.

Online

Use the Search & track facility to submit comments (you will need to register first). To make a comment, first navigate to the application you wish to comment on. A simple search can be carried out using the planning application number, keyword, postcode or a single line of an address. Then click on the Comments tab and the Make a Comment button. 

Any comments you make will be placed on the planning file and website, which are available for public inspection. Your name and address will be published with your comment, however personal telephone numbers, email addresses and signatures will not be published online. Please do not include other personal or sensitive information with your comments.

By email

Send your response to development.management@trafford.gov.uk.  Please be sure to include the planning application number, your full name and address and your comments.

In writing

You can write to the Head of Planning and Development who will take your views into account when deciding applications under delegated powers and when preparing reports for those applications decided by the Planning Development Management Committee. Send your correspondence to:

Planning and Development
Trafford Town Hall
Talbot Road
Stretford
M32 0TH

Please quote the planning application number and include your full name and address with your comments.

By contacting your local Councillor

Contact your local Ward Councillors to seek their support. They may write to Planning or 'call-in' the application for decision by the Planning Committee. You can search for your local Councillors if you don't know who they are.

Attending a Planning Committee meeting

You may be able to speak at the Planning Committee. The following information will prepare you for this.

You must decide what you want to say to the Council before it makes a decision, but please be aware that under Planning law the Council's decision must accord with the Trafford Unitary Development Plan unless other planning considerations, including the points that you make, are of sufficient weight to justify a different decision that can be defended on appeal to the Government's Planning Inspectorate.

Examples of proper planning considerations include:

  • Policies and Proposals in the Trafford Unitary Development Plan (e.g. green belt)
  • Government planning advice (e.g. Planning Policy Guidance Notes), appeal decisions and case law
  • Impact on the character and appearance of an area (e.g. scale, massing and design)
  • Impact on residential amenity (e.g. overlooking, over dominance, traffic)
  • Impact on highway safety (e.g. pedestrian safety)

The Council can give no weight to purely private interests such as:

  • The personal characteristics of the applicant
  • Disputes over the ownership of the land affected
  • Private rights of way, private drains and other private easements
  • Property values
  • Competition between rival companies, shops, restaurants etc
  • Contrary to popular belief, the Council cannot refuse an application merely because many people object to it or approve one on the basis that many people support it or no-one objects

Speaking to the Committee if your application is referred to the Committee for a decision?

You can speak on a Planning Application only if it is on the agenda. Many applications are decided by the officers under delegated powers, but your letter(s) will be taken into account however the decision is made. An Application is normally considered by the Committee only when:

  • At least 6 people (from different addresses) have written to the Chief Planning Officer with views that are contrary to the officers' intended recommendation
  • A local Trafford Councillor has requested that it be brought ('called -in') to the Committee
  • It is for a scale or type of development otherwise required to be considered by the Committee (for example, 10 or more houses)

Normally only a single spokesperson is allowed to speak (i.e. one for and one against an application). If several people wish to speak, they should get together to agree who this spokesperson should be and inform the Council. The Planning service will give you the names of the people who have already said they want to speak to help you arrange this.

Contact the Service no later than 12.30pm on the day prior to the Committee Meeting. You must provide a daytime telephone number.

We will ring you with the time and date of the Committee once the agenda has been prepared. This will occur no earlier than 3 working days before the meeting, but if you have not provided a telephone number it may be as late as the day of the meeting itself.

Where are the Committee meetings held?

Committee meetings are held at Committee Suite, Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 0TH. The nearest tram stop is at Old Trafford. Use the Transport for Greater Manchester journey planner for bus timetables. There is limited public car parking at the Town Hall. The entrance is on Warwick Road.

Upon arrival, you should introduce yourself to the Committee Clerk at the required time (6:15pm on Thursdays on three week cycle). Committee agendas, minutes and dates of future meetings are available online.

When will I get to speak?

You should come to the microphone when called to speak by the Chairman of the Committee.

Speak once and for up to three minutes. It is important that you prepare yourself and focus on the issues that concern you, but you will not need to repeat all of the points raised in your letter(s) as they will have been summarised in the Committee Report.

Having spoken you must leave the matter to be discussed by the Committee and not join in the debate, but the Chairman of the Committee may ask you question(s) to clarify any point(s).

Please note that you cannot demand to speak at the Committee as of right.