Commenting on Planning Applications
You can comment on most planning applications in the borough. Your comments help us understand the impact of a proposal and inform our planning judgement.
Applications you cannot comment on are listed further down this page.
How to comment
The quickest way to comment is online. You can also email or write to us, but postal delays may affect whether your comment is received on time.
When you comment, you must include:
- the application number or site address
- your full name and full address
- the date of your comment
We cannot accept anonymous comments under the Local Government Act 2000.
Your comment will be published online, in line with our privacy notice, with personal details such as your name, email address and signature removed.
Read our Planning Privacy Notice.
Only comments received through the formal channels and within the consultation period can be considered.
Comment online
The quickest and easiest way to comment is online.
Find and comment on planning applications on Public Access.
Comment by email
Email your comment to planning.admin@gravesham.gov.uk
Comment in writing
Send your comment in writing to:
Planning Department
Gravesham Borough Council
Civic Centre
Windmill Street
Gravesend
DA12 1AU
What we take into account (material considerations)
Examples of material planning considerations we can consider include:
- local, strategic, and national policies and guidance
- impact on amenity such as privacy, sunlight, overshadowing and overlooking (but not loss of a view)
- planning site history, including appeal decisions (if relevant)
- highways issues generated by the proposal – traffic generation, vehicular access, pedestrian and highway safety
- impact on listed buildings, conservation areas and non-designated heritage assets
- impact on nature conservation and biodiversity
- design or appearance of a development, including density, layout, height and finishing materials.
- compatibility with neighbouring uses in the area
- noise and disturbance from proposed uses and hours of operation
- impact on social infrastructure such as schools
- impact on climate change
What we cannot take into account
Government guidance prevents us from considering comments about:
- loss of value to property
- noise from construction
- loss of views
- issues of a moral or religious nature
- health and safety risks
- opposition to business competition
- matters controlled under other legislation such as Building Control, Drainage, Licensing
- private issues between neighbours such as land/boundary disputes, damage to property, rights of access, restrictive covenants
- objections to principle of development where development has been allocated within the adopted Development Plan or where this has been settled by a previous planning permission or appeal
Comment standards
- rational
- impersonal
- focused on planning issues raised by the proposal
We cannot accept or publish comments that are personal, offensive, defamatory, threatening or abusive. In serious cases we may report the matter to Kent Police.
Applications you cannot comment on
You cannot comment on the following types of applications:
- lawful development certificates
- approval of details
- advert consent
- non-material amendment applications
- Environmental Impact Assessment (full title and then the acronym) screening.
If you are unsure, please contact the Planning Department before submitting a comment, by email planning.admin@gravesham.gov.uk.
How long you have to comment
You usually have 24 days from the publication date of the application.
This may vary, so always check the notification letter, site notice or publicity for the exact deadline.
We will consider valid comments up until the application has been decided.
What happens after you comment
Your comment will be published online (see "Your privacy" below) and considered by the case officer and decision‑makers.
We will only contact you if:
- significant changes are made to the proposal and we need to re‑consult, or
- the application is going to Planning Committee
Your privacy
All comments are published online on the Planning Portal. To comply with GDPR, we remove:
- email addresses
- signatures
- names
- house names or numbers
- first line of the address (where identification is possible)
- sensitive information
- any content that identifies exactly where you live
For system-related information, including service availability and copyright restrictions, see our Public Access Terms and Conditions.