Swale provides extensive and detailed advice on how to respond to planning applications and what constitutes a ground for objection in planning terms.

All comments they receive about a planning application will be noted, but only planning issues can be taken into account. These include:

• Overshadowing
• Loss of light or privacy.
• Visual appearance
• Parking provision
• Traffic the proposal would generate and effects on highway safety
• Noise, smells and disturbance resulting from use
• Loss of trees or other important landscape features
• Design, appearance and materials proposed to be used
• Effect on listed buildings and on the character of a conservation area
• Layout and density of proposed buildings
• Flooding
• Wildlife

Examples of matters that cannot normally be taken into account:

• Matters controlled by Building Regulations or other non-planning laws such as structural stability, fire precautions and environmental health
• Private rights and issues between neighbours, for example, disputes over land ownership or boundaries, damage to property, private rights of way, covenants and private
• Loss of value of a property.
• Possible problems associated with the building work, for example, hours of work, noise, dust and construction vehicles.
• Loss of a view
• Private interests of objectors and competition between rival companies
• Any personal issues or circumstances relating to an applicant or business

Local Planning Guidance

Throughout the Swale Local Plan reference is made to Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD).

These publications set out, in more detail than is possible in the Local Plan, certain standards and approaches of which developers should normally take account.

The Government considers that both SPG and SPD can be taken into account when considering planning applications, and that weight accorded to them will be increased if they have been subject to public consultation. All the SPG and SPD agreed by the Council has been subject to public consultation.

Swale has published SPG on the following topics:

• The Conversion of Buildings into Flats and Houses in Multiple Occupation
• Listed Buildings – A Guide for Owners and Occupiers
• The Conservation of Traditional Farm Buildings
• The Design of Shop fronts, Signs and Advertisements
• Designing an Extension – A Guide for Householders
• Planting on New Developments – A Guide for Developers
• The Erection of Stables and Keeping of Horses
• Conservation Areas
• Lynsted Parish Design Statement
• Abbott Laboratories Ltd – Development Brief