Get involved – Have your Say

Making your voice heard

You have a legal right (and a social responsibility) to comment on development planning arrangements proposed by the Borough council that affect you and your community.  See our consultations page for the consultation timetable, online links and public consultation dates.

The NAAG wants everyone who has an opinion on this issue to have a voice, to be heard and to believe their views have been taken on board by the local authority, its councillors and its officers. 

Your rights are outlined in a Development Plan Document called the “Statement of Community Involvement” (SCI).  It explains how and when Bracknell Forest will inform you and gather opinion during the preparation and review of development plan documents. 

Where can I find documents?

There are several ways:

How to make comments

Your replies are called “representations”.  The Council will encourage you to use paper or online forms, however, you may contact the council in ANY written format including email, fax or letter as ALL must be accepted and taken into account.

To make a representation:

How long have you got?

The council has given you 6 weeks (the legal minimum timescale) for this major planning document. 

Not being a planning expert, you don’t have long to research, understand and comment.  We’ve designed these pages to bring together as much information as possible, but it is only here to help you, you will need to access as much information you can for yourself.

What can you comment on?

What the council says

In its own guidance, the Council says:  “We want to ensure that all comments on the Participation Document focus on planning issues. We have tried to list the matters we can and cannot take into account to assist in compiling responses on the document. Particularly when handling a sensitive and potentially controversial subject it is important that responses are carefully written, concentrate on planning issues and avoid any form of offensiveness to a particular racial or ethnic group.”

Matters that can be taken into account Matters that cannot be taken into account
Conflict with planning policy Devaluation of property
Effect on character of an area, including landscape and trees Loss of view
Effect on setting of a Listed Building or character of a Conservation Area Possibility of future problems (e.g. proposed use)
Effect on important environmental areas such as wildlife sites, Special Protection Areas and Sites of Special Scientific Importance Business/competition issues
Flood risk/drainage effects Contended legal rights e.g. ownership
Contamination/pollution issues Covenants attached to the site
Traffic generation, access and road safety Whether intended user is liked/disliked
Availability of infrastructure, e.g. schools and roads  
Loss of current land use  
Competing land uses for the site  
Alternative locations  

What Independent Planning Inspection guidance says

Before any planning documents can be adopted, they must be reviewed by an Independent Planning Inspector to ensure they are “sound”.  To be sound the documents must show “good judgement” and are “able to be trusted” as accurate and meeting need. 

Remember, “local authorities are staffed by people who do not always know the community well, they don’t have the opportunity to meet residents and they don’t always live in the areas affected by the decisions they make“, so clearly the evidence base must be looked at carefully.  Let us be responsible residents and help them.

The inspector will be seeking your views on the following issues.

  • Does the development of any proposals comply with the timings in Local Development Scheme, have there been changes, did you know about them?
  • Has the plan been adequately consulted on with all the people interested or involved in or affected by the proposals in the planning document? Was the Council’s promotion of the consultation adequate – how did you find out?  Did you have any problems getting hold of information, if so what problems did you experience, how long did you have to wait for information, was a reason given for delays?
  • Have the environmental, social and economic needs of the area been taken into account, how accurate are the assessments?  Are the figures on which the proposal based sufficiently accurate? If not, why not?
  • Has the impact on the environment, community and local economy been considered, and how accurate are the assessments? What do you know about your local area that the Council has not considered?
  • Does the plan match with what’s being said in:
  • Do the proposals have regard to government policy and guidance?  Are decisions being taken before the Government has developed its policy and guidance or projections for economic growth?
  • Each planning document will give reasons why it is being prepared.  Is the need for the document justified?  Are the needs are the proposals a suitable solution and is the evidence on which they are based accurate or appropriate?
  • Have other plans been considered in developing the planning document?  Are they appropriate as evidence, are they outdated?
  • Are the plans that are being put forward achieveable?  How will the success of any proposed development be measured?  Are these the right criteria?
  • Are the plans flexible enough to deal with changes in local circumstances?  Have you been told how they might change and what can be done to change them?

Although your represenations do NOT always have to be related to “tests of soundness”, it helps to strengthen the argument against the plan if you can show why the document does not show good judgement or is inaccurate and what changes you think are needed to make it sound.