Viewing or commenting on planning applications

You can view planning applications, appeals and enforcements by searching our online planning database.

You can also use the database to comment on planning applications. 

Please read our guidance on commenting before making a comment on an application.

Commenting on a planning application is your opportunity to have a say in the decision making process. You can support, object or make a general comment about an application.

How to comment

Comments are best made online. Visit our online planning database to sign in or register. 

To make a comment:

• select ‘planning simple search'
• enter the application reference number or search by address
• select 'make a comment'

Comments can also be made by email or post.

If you are sending an email, please send it to planning.comments@brent.gov.uk

Please send your comments by post to the case officer at: 

Planning
Brent Council
Brent Civic Centre
Engineer's Way
Wembley
HA9 0FJ

Comments by post or email must include:

• the planning application reference number
• your address

Comments should be received within the stated timescale. If you respond after this period, your views may only be taken into account if the application has not yet been decided.

Planning law sets out what things may be taken into account when deciding a planning application.

Proposals are evaluated using planning policies and guidance.  An application cannot be refused simply because a large number of people are opposed to it. The planning process tries to balance the rights of the applicant to develop or use their land as they wish, with the rights of neighbours to continue to enjoy the use of theirs.

It must also consider the wider public good.

Planning considers a number of things including:

• the appearance of new buildings
• their impact on neighbours and the locality
• the appropriateness of the use of land and buildings.

Planning is not designed to deal with:

• structural matters (eg foundations and drainage)
• civil matters (eg boundary disputes)
• personal matters (eg people's approval or disapproval of particular individuals or organisations).

Below you can find more detail about the types of objections that can be considered and the sort of objections not relevant to planning permission.

Objections which can be considered

• problems of increased noise, smell, dust, traffic, etc. caused by the use (but not during construction work)
• loss of light, privacy or outlook
• number, size or design of buildings
• traffic safety or congestion, including effects on pedestrians
• effect on parking
• transport issues, eg availability of public transport, facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and people with disabilities
• loss of trees and ecology
• effect on the character of the area
• effects on conservation areas, listed buildings, protected open spaces and nature conservation areas
• loss of more beneficial land uses, eg employment uses, homes or community uses
• opportunities for crime arising from a development
• conflict with government or local policies.

Objections that won’t be considered

Some objections cannot be taken into account because they are outside the control of planning legislation. This is not an exhaustive list but it highlights some objections that cannot be considered:

• possible loss of value to properties in the area
• nuisance caused during construction work - this is covered by environmental health legislation
• concerns regarding foundations and sewerage - these are dealt with under the building regulations
• moral objections to a proposed use eg religious opposition to alcohol, gambling and animal slaughter
• an applicant's personality, character, behaviour, ethnic origin or way of life
• private matters between neighbours eg boundary disputes over fences and rights of way
• loss of a view from a private property
• commercial competition or loss of trade
• the fact that a development may be profit-making
• the history of the site eg any restrictive covenants
• the internal layout of private buildings (except where relating to the quality of accommodation or where an undesirable use of part of a building, such as one involving noise or vibrations from industrial machinery, could affect neighbours)
• health concerns about mobile-phone masts - such masts already have to comply with existing national and international guidelines for radiation emissions; any further legislation needed to safeguard public health is the responsibility of central government, not local councils.