What the Council Considers
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In deciding an application for planning permission, the Council must consider two main things:
How the proposal meets approved planning policies and other relevant considerations such as the local effect of the proposal.
The Council also has to take into account current advice from the Government, previous planning decisions (including those made by the Government or Planning Inspectors) and pronouncements made on planning matters by judges and the Law Lords.
Planning Policies
The Council has a Unitary Development Plan (UDP) covering all of Sheffield apart from the area which lies in the Peak District National Park. The UDP provides guidance on all types of development in the city and all new proposals are expected to follow the policies unless special circumstances allow for a 'departure' (variation).
Copies of all the Council's planning policies, including the UDP, can be bought or looked at in First Point; or are available on this website.
Other Planning Considerations
The planning system does not exist to protect the private interests of one person against the activities of another, although private interests may coincide with the public interest in some cases. The basic planning question is not whether owners or occupiers of neighbouring properties would experience financial or other loss from a particular development, but whether the proposal would unacceptably affect amenities, which ought to be protected in the public interest.
The kind of things planners might have to think about here would include:
- The appearance of an area or character of a street (this includes the design and materials of buildings and any landscaping)
- People's privacy within their homes
- The quality of the environment, including any noise and pollution impacts
- The Safety of all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists
- Employment and the local economy
What can not be considered
Arguments are often made which are not relevant to planning. The Council is normally advised to disregard the following:
- Racist or sexist views
- Personal circumstances of an applicant
- A development has already begun or been completed.
- Trade objections from potential competitors
- Moral objections to uses such as amusement arcades, betting offices or massage parlours
- The loss of an attractive view from private property
- The fear that property may be devalued
- Allegations that the proposal may affect private rights such as rights of way, rights of light, access for maintenance or boundary disputes (These are usually private matters on which legal advice may be needed)
Public Consultation
The opinions of local people, organisations and businesses are of great importance to the Council when it decides planning applications and are always considered carefully.
All planning applications receive publicity soon after they reach the Council. These are the steps you can expect planning officers to take.
We check that all publicity required by planning law is done. The regulations allow some flexibility, but the Council is fully committed to effective community engagement, choosing those methods it considers most effective and carrying out additional publicity.
Letters are sent to neighbours advising them of proposals likely to affect them. All those directly adjoining the proposed development will be notified. If a proposal may have a wider impact, the planning officer will decide how to give wider publicity, which is often a combination of some additional letters and site notices.
A weekly list of all applications received is published on this website. This can be searched by various methods, including by street name, electoral ward or application type. It can also be seen at First Point, Howden House and in local First Points and all libraries. This helps the local media run stories about planning issues, which provides further publicity.
We also have a mailing list for the weekly planning list. Please email planningdc@sheffield.gov.uk to add your name to our list. We do not use this list for any other purpose and will not share your details with anyone else without asking.
A register of all applications received is kept at First Point, Howden House, along with copies of the plans for anyone to inspect. Later in 2005 it will be possible to view all application details, including plans via this website.
For large-scale developments and those affecting Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas, we publish public notices in the Sheffield Telegraph and post site notices.
Applicants are also encouraged to post voluntary site notices where statutory notices are not required.
If you are in any doubt about the way in which an application will be dealt with or how to comment on one, the Council's planners can help. See the about us page for more details.
Public Representations
All representations received have to be placed on the public file, so any comments made "in confidence" cannot be considered and will be returned. Because the process has to be transparent and open, anonymous comments will also not be considered.
Please note that representations received (from August 2005 onwards) are to be published on the Council's website (from late 2005), including personal information such as names and addresses.
Planning for Special Needs
The Council is committed to involving everyone in planning in Sheffield. Those groups who may face barriers to service, such as ethnic minorities or people with disabilities, will be assisted, to enable their voice to be heard.
The Planning Division has an Access Officer to help the planners to ensure that access and mobility across the city is improved for people with disabilities. The Access Officer will also assist individuals and groups of people with disabilities to get their needs acted upon.
The Access Officer is available by telephone on: 0114 2734197 or by email: brian.messider@sheffield.gov.uk
Downloads
A leaflet highlighting the main issues that are considered when deciding a planning application (117 KB)
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