Welcome To Wirral

After the planning application has been made, Wirral Council will post notices nearby and write letters inviting comments to those who live close to the proposed development, relevant stakeholders and interest groups. Larger developments will also be advertised in local newspapers with possible exhibitions in municipal buildings such as libraries, one stop shops, town halls. The details of the proposals, including architects' drawings and models, will be available for inspection at council offices and on this website.

Frequently asked questions:

• How do I object or make a comment on a planning application?
• What do we take into account when making our decision?
• Who decides whether to approve or refuse an application?
• What decision can be made?

 

How do I object to or make a comment on a planning application?

Anyone can object to or comment on a planning application, but please read the information below about how we decide and what we take into account.

• You must send your comments as soon as possible because a time limit is set for their receipt. This enables applications to be decided quickly.
• There are three main ways you can register your opinion. You can submit your comments online, by email, or writing to the planning office at: Technical Services Department, Cheshire Lines Building, Canning Street, Birkenhead CH41 1ND. Please give your name and address, saying which application you are commenting on and why you think permission should or should not be given.
• You can submit a petition if it contains signatures from at least 25 different households before noon on the Monday prior to the Committee meeting. One representative of the petitioners can address the committee for five minutes. However, in the event of more than one petition being received, this opportunity may not be extended to each petition organiser (although the views of petitioners will be reported to the meeting). In such circumstances, it is the Committee's normal practice to allow only one person to address the meeting.
• When a petition is received, the agent or applicant for the planning application will also be invited to address the Committee.
  
• You can also contact a Councillor. Contact one of your Ward Councillors or one of the Councillors on the Planning Committee.

What do we take into account when making our decision?

By law, certain matters must be taken into account:

• Government Advice - set out in Circulars and Planning Policy Guidance Notes.
• Local Planning Policies - approved by Wirral Council. The Unitary Development Plan sets out the Council's planning policies. The Council has prepared a number of Supplementary Planning Guidance Notes which provide advice on issues such as house extensions and new housing development etc. and are available free of charge.
• Other Planning Issues - for example, written comments of consultees e.g. Green Belt Council, Borough Engineer. Health & Safety Executive, neighbours (local residents and businesses). The Council can only take into account matters which are directly relevant to the planning process e.g. impact on light, traffic and visitors, privacy, noise, pollution, and provision for car parking. Matters that are normally not relevant include boundary disputes, loss of business, loss of a private view or the devaluation of property or alternative proposals.

Each application must be considered on its merits. If a proposal meets the Council's policies and standards, planning permission will usually be granted, even if neighbour objections are received. Wirral Council, like most Planning Authorities only refuses a small proportion of applications.

Please remember that we cannot take into account:

• licensing issues
• private property rights issues about boundaries or access
• the effect of development on nearby property values
• moral issues about a proposal
• competition between businesses
• loss of a private view

Who decides whether to approve or refuse an application?

Professional Planning Officers - if the application is straightforward and conforms to the Council's agreed scheme of delegation.

Planning Committee - made up of elected Councillors - Planning Committee usually meets once every three weeks.

What decision can be made?

Approval - usually subject to conditions; for example, that brick samples be submitted to and approved by the Council before work begins.

Refusal - The reasons given for refusal must be planning reasons.

If the application is refused, or if the Council do not make a decision on it, the applicant has a right of appeal to the Department of the Environment, who will determine the appeal. If an appeal is submitted, you will be notified and given the opportunity to make further comments.

Neighbours have no rights of appeal, even if they disagree with the decision made by the Council.