{"id":3614,"date":"2021-11-22T17:32:50","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T21:32:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/planning.gov.bm\/?page_id=3614"},"modified":"2025-10-07T09:43:23","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T12:43:23","slug":"guide-to-commenting-on-planning-applications","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/planning.gov.bm\/index.php\/guide-to-commenting-on-planning-applications\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Commenting on Planning Applications"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Commenting on Planning Applications<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Any person may submit comments on planning applications, regardless of whether they would be directly impacted by the proposal. Comments may be submitted in the form of a formal objection or as a \u2018representation\u2019.<\/span><\/p>

An objection should be submitted if you consider that the planning application ought to be refused in its current form. However, it is important to note that an application can only be refused if it is contrary to the provisions of the relevant development plan or another statutory provision, such as a zoning order or special development order, which may apply to the application site; see the Department\u2019s guide to How Planning Applications are Decided<\/a> for further information. Therefore, an objection should not be submitted if the issue(s) of concern fall outside of the scope of the planning process.<\/span><\/p>

A representation should be submitted if you wish to comment on an application but do not wish to object. This may include instances where you wish to raise some minor concerns, make suggestions on how the proposal could be improved or voice support for a proposal.<\/span><\/p>

Anyone who provides comments on an application, whether an objection or a representation, will be informed of the outcome of the application and would be entitled to appeal the decision.<\/span><\/p>

If you are unclear in respect of what is being proposed by a planning application or are uncertain whether to submit formal comments, it is strongly recommended that you contact the technical officer by clicking the name adjacent to the \u2018Assigned To\u201d field, as illustrated below.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Timescale for Submitting Comments<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Objections and representations should be submitted within fourteen (14) calendar days<\/strong><\/span> of the application being advertised in the Official Gazette; if the 14th<\/sup> day is a public holiday, the deadline for submitting objections or representations will be extended to the next business day.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Can comments be submitted after the advertisement period has expired?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Objections and representations will be considered \u201cin-time\u201d if they meet all of the criteria set out above and are received by the Department on or before the 14th<\/sup> day following the application being advertised. Comments which are received by the Department after this period will be considered \u201cout-of-time\u201d. The Board must consider any \u201cin-time\u201d objection or representation as part of the assessment of a planning application and the Board may, but is not obliged to, consider \u201cout-of-time\u201d objections and representations.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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How to Submit Comments<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Objections and representations must be submitted online via the Department\u2019s\u00a0Customer Self Service<\/a> (CSS) portal. Objections and representations may be made on an objector\u2019s behalf by an authorised agent. <\/span><\/p>

Please note that comments submitted by email will not be accepted.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

You will need to know the planning application reference number, which you can find in the following ways:<\/p>

1. In the Government Notice posted on the Official Gazette<\/a><\/p>

2. Displayed on the Notice of Planning Application (red sign), that applicants are required to display at the application site.<\/p>

3. Search the CSS<\/a> using the address of the property<\/p>

4. Contact the Dept of Planning at 297 7756 and provide the address of the property<\/p>

To submit comments, log in or create an account<\/a> for the CSS portal, click \u2018Search Public Records\u2019 and enter the planning application reference number. Then click the link to the right of \u2018Plan Number\u2019 (the application reference number in blue) and the screen to the right will appear.<\/span><\/p>

Select the \u2018Sub-Records\u2019 tab then select \u2018Apply\u2019 alongside \u2018Planning Application Objection\u2019 or \u2018Planning Application Representation\u2019, as appropriate. Then follow the steps of the online form.<\/span><\/p>

Please note that it is not possible to submit comments unless you have created a CSS account and you are logged in.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Any objection or representation must adhere to all criteria of Section 18 of the<\/span>\u00a0Development and Planning (Application Procedure) Rules 1997<\/a>\u00a0by satisfying all of the points set out below:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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