The council will approve an application unless there are good planning reasons to refuse it. By law, the Council can only take certain matters into account based on planning policies.

Typical examples of what can be taken into consideration:

• Whether the proposed use is suitable for the location;
• The effect of the development on the character of the neighbourhood;
• The appearance, size and visual impact of new buildings. Is it over-development, with over-bearing bulk, or insufficient open areas (NOT the loss of a view or ‘ugly’);
• The nature, detailing (or lack of it) and colours of the building materials to be used;
• Whether the proposal has an appropriate housing density and unit mix;
• Whether it provides sufficient affordable housing;
• Adequacy of parking/loading/turning provisions;
• Can local roads cope with extra traffic expected as a result of the development. This applies only to problems after completion; traffic problems during construction are dealt with under normal traffic regulations.
• Will new traffic generation, roadways and accesses be safe for pedestrians and other road users;
• Whether there will be an increase in noise and disturbance, eg from traffic – but not the noise of the building process itself;
• Whether there is sufficient infrastructure to cater for the development. This can include all sorts of amenities and services such as cycles networks, transport links, major supermarkets, or sports facilites;
• Whether it involves the loss of trees, open land, or open aspects;
• Will the development have an impact on biodiversity, habitats and wildlife;
• Whether neighbours will loss of privacy and ocerlooking;
• Whether there is satisfactory access for disabled people;
• Drainage and potential flood problems;
• Whether the proposal complies with the council’s planning policies (found in the Core Strategy) or the London Plan;
• Whether it complies with national planning policies – particularly the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in relation to housing;
• Previous planning decisions, including appeal decisions.

What cannot be taken into consideration:

• Loss of a private view; however loss of a view which would adversely affect the residential amenities of a whole area can be a valid ground for objection;
• Matters dealt with by other legislation;
• Inconvenience or other problems caused by building works;
• Loss of property value – neither your own property nor anyone else’s;
• Boundary or other disputes between neighbours unless directly related to the application;
• The identity, motives or previous behaviour of the applicant, or personal circumstances or any other private matter – however much he is known to be a bad hat;
• Hearsay or gossip about possible future expansion or alternative uses of the site, unless included in the application.