Once a planning application has been registered, it is passed to a planning case officer who will carry out a site visit and consult the relevant interested parties – such as neighbours and statutory bodies.
The suitability of the proposal will be considered with regard to existing planning policies, past planning history of the site and surrounding area, government advice, responses to consultations and any other material considerations.
The planning officer may ask for further information or consideration of certain amendments before finally making a recommendation on whether or not planning permission should be given.
Please be aware that our ability to undertake site visits in person is limited. This is for the safety of our officers and of the public. Where a Site Notice is due, we’ll be sending this directly to the applicant or agent to put up. You may notice that some of the notices are not in their usual green colour.
If you’d like to make any comments on an application, and to point out anything that you might not be able to show in writing (for example a particular view, a feature, or a part of local character), please send in photos, or perhaps organise a ‘virtual’ site visit or video. This will help the Case Officer to better assess the proposals and any comments you may have.
Keep up to date with planning applications
You can view and comment on planning applications.
We are required by law to keep a planning register – this has two sections:
- part 1 – copies of each of the applications, together with submitted plans awaiting final determination
- part 2 – details of each of the determined applications, giving the decision. The register is available for public inspection at the Civic Offices during normal office hours.
Some planning applications require extra publicity and are advertised in the local press each week under the public notices section.
These proposals include:
- departures from the Portsmouth City local plan
- conservation areas – proposals which materially affect the character of a conservation area
- listed buildings – applications for alteration or demolition are given added publicity
- major development proposals
Have your say on a planning application
If an application goes before the planning committee, you may state views on the proposal to the committee verbally – this is called making a deputation.
Alternatively, any ward councillor that does not sit on the planning committee may speak on behalf of a supporter or objector.
Speaking at Planning Committee
When you arrive at the meeting – if you have registered to make a deputation – please make yourself known to a member staff so that they can seat you in an appropriate location. If you are not registered to speak but wish to watch the meeting, please take a seat in the public gallery.
Please be aware that our meetings are live streamed on the internet. If you are speaking and you do not wish to be on camera during the meeting, please let a member of staff know.
The Chair will ask you to introduce yourself at the beginning of the meeting and when the item that you are making a representation on is being considered, the Chair will advise you when it is your time to speak. The amount of time you will be given and other information regarding the deputation procedure are set out below:
- No person may speak for more than 6 minutes per deputation
- The total time for those in favour and against a proposal will be 12 minutes respectively. If more than 2 people wish to speak for or against a proposition, the time allocated to each will be reduced proportionately unless they agree otherwise amongst themselves how to apportion the 12 minutes.
Deputations will be invited to speak in the following order:
- Those objecting to the application
- Those supporting the application
- The applicant (and/or whoever is acting on the applicant’s behalf)
- Any Ward Councillor who has requested to speak
This will be your only opportunity to speak to the Committee. In accordance with the City Council’s Standing Orders, you are not allowed to ask questions or engage in a discussion with the councillors or officers or participate in the committee members’ debate, unless asked a direct question.
Members of the Committee will then be invited to ask questions of the officers about the application. Finally, the members of the Committee will discuss the application and vote on whether to approve the officer recommendation or whether to make an amended or alternative decision, for which they will provide clear reasons.
Please be aware that the applications may not be heard in the order of the agenda. The order of the presentations can be changed at the Chair’s discretion. As such we advise that you attend the meeting from the start time. Once the application has been heard please feel free to leave if you do not wish to hear the remaining items on the agenda.