Home> Planning and building control > View or comment on planning applications

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View or comment on planning applications

View or comment now

You can use Public Access to view planning applications that have been submitted to us.

You can search for 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

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

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.

If you would like to view a comment on an application we received before 1 April 2019, you can complete our online request form.

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

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

We recommend that you use Public Access to make your comments. However, we do accept comments submitted by post.

If you do submit your comment by post, you need to include:

your name and address
the planning application reference number

You can send your comments to:

Planning Development Management Services
Chelmsford City Council
Civic Centre
Duke Street
Chelmsford
CM1 1JE

We will summarise any handwritten comments and make them publicly available.

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Contact Planning

01245 606826

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Last updated: 05 November 2020

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