View or comment on planning applications

You can use Public Access to access current and previous planning applications, so you can view or comment on them.

You can search for current applications, track their progress and add comments.

Public Access uses tabs, and you can use these to:

view details of the application, including a summary, contacts and important dates
make a comment if the application is in the consultation period
view comments from consultees
view plans and documents, including drawings, decision notices and officer reports
look at any related cases
view the location of the application on a map

You can also search for the planning history of a site by using the map search.

Many of the building plans, documents and drawings include very detailed information. You may find it easier to view these documents on a desktop computer, rather than on a smartphone or tablet.

If you don’t have access to the internet or a desktop computer, you can use self-service desktop computers at:

the Customer Service Centre, Civic Centre
Chelmsford Library
South Woodham Ferrers Library

Sign up to email alerts

You can sign up to receive email alerts about new planning applications in your area.

This allows you to create your own tailored search, so you can receive alerts every time we receive an application relevant to you.

Find out how to sign up for email alerts.

You can find the planning history for a property by searching for the current property address under the property search tab. If you are looking for a piece of land that does not have a postcode (such as “Land at” or “Site adjacent to”, you can use the map search tab.

If you are searching using the map search tab, you can only go back to 1 January 2000, so you may need to use a different search to go further back.

If you want to check history before 1974, you need to submit a request for planning advice.

You can comment on current planning applications during the consultation period.

It is not currently possible to submit comments on Public Access from a mobile or tablet device.

You need to search for the application you want to comment on. Once you have found the application, you need to select the ‘Make a Comment’ tab.

If you have a detailed comment, you may want to write it in another program, such as Microsoft Word, then paste it into Public Access. This is because sessions on Public Access time out after 30 minutes.

We will only consider comments if they relate to planning matters.

Planning matters include:

the size and scale of the proposal
potential loss of light
the design and appearance of the proposal
potential loss of privacy or increased overlooking
the impact on traffic and parking
potential for additional noise and disturbance
the impact on trees, landscape or existing buildings

Planning matters do not include:

property value
the loss of a view
land ownership disputes
preference for an alternative development
competition for existing business
the personal circumstance of the applicant

If you want us to consider your comment on a planning application, you need to provide your name and address.

If you don't, we will classify the comment as anonymous, and will not:

consider it as part of the decision process
be able to notify you of any related planning applications

We will make all comments we receive publicly available. We will publish comments online two to three days after we receive them.

We will not display, share or consider any comments that are inappropriate, including those that are racist, inflammatory or derogatory.

We can only publish comments in text form, so will not include any supporting information, such as photo or illustrations.

If we receive comments by post or in a format that we can't copy from, we will display a summary of the comment.