How to Search for a Planning Application
Planning applications and related documentation can be viewed online through our web site. It is possible to search by Street Name, Application Number, Date Range and Postcode.  The easiest way to search for a specific planning application is by Application Number, but please type the full application number in the format YY/NNNNN.  This number is located on the top left hand corner of neighbour notification letters or on the planning site notice.  Click here to Find a Planning Application. 

Please note that Committee Reports for applications that are due to be considered at Planning Commitee within the next 2 weeks can only be viewed on the Council and Democracy part of the web page.  Please click here for the link.

Making a Comment
Comments can be made through our web site. You should ensure all relevant comments are received within 21 days of publication of the application.  Please provide your name and address as anonymous comments will not be considered when a decision is made. The Council reserves the right not to publish or take into account any letters of representation which are openly offensive or defamatory. Comments of a personal nature are in any case irrelevant to the determination of a planning application.

Keep comments to the planning merits / concerns about the development, such as:-
-  the design of the proposed development, eg what it will be like to look at, but not the loss of view
- effect on the surrounding area
- highway safety
- residential amenity in terms of noise, smell, loss of light and overlooking
- trees
- historic environment
- the effect of the proposal upon the enjoyment of your home or garden

Some matters are not seen as planning considerations and should be avoided when making comments on an application. This applies across the Country following consideration in the courts. It is not a Braintree District Council stipulation. Examples include:-
- effect on property value
- loss of a private view
- private covenant or private interests
- suspicion about future intentions
- the personal circumstances of the applicant
-  loss of acquired rights to light

Please note that the planning application and decision making process is open and transparent.  If requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Council must make all comments received available for inspection and copying by any members of the public, including the applicant.


How Much Information is Available Online?
- Decision Notices since 1989.

- Since July 2006 all relevant information submitted with the application is scanned. This includes the application forms, plans, drawings, photographs and any other supporting information submitted with the application.

- All planning related correspondence is scanned on a daily basis and available to view online. Due to concerns of identity fraud the Local Planning Authority has taken the decision to publish letters of representation received by post with any signature or phone number obscured. This is to protect personal details usually contained within letters of representation. 

- Decision Notices are published on the website as soon as a decision has been made.

- If you need to view an application file it can be made available at the Main Reception at Causeway House in Braintree. Please phone and give 48 hours notice of your request stating the Application No. and the Site Location (address). 

How to Search for a Planning Application
It is possible to search by Street Name, Application Number, Date Range and Postcode.  The easiest way to search for a specific planning application is by Application Number.  This number is located on the top left hand corner of neighbour notification letters and/or on the planning site notice.

Conditions of Use 
The information on this website does not replace the Council’s statutory register of planning applications.  Current planning applications and documents are available for viewing on request at the Council Offices at Causeway House in Braintree during normal office hours.  Historic records require at least 48 hours notice.

The Council cannot guarantee that this section of the website will always be available due to essential maintenance.

Drawings and documents can be large files.  We recommend that you click on the “thumbnail” links.  The quality of the image depends on the quality of the original submission.

You should ensure all relevant comments are received within 21 days of publication of the application.  Please use the online comments form on this website to ensure your comments are received in time.

The online planning history contained within this website at present is incomplete and must not be used as a substitute for carrying out a formal ‘Land Charge Search’.  No responsibility will be taken for any errors or omissions in the planning history information obtained from this website.  Similarly the information contained within this website does not constitute in any way a formal notification of a planning decision, and as such any actions taken as a result of information displayed on the site are undertaken entirely at the viewer’s own risk.

Whilst all plans and drawings on this website are scans of scaled originals, the images will not appear at any particular scale on your computer screen.  Figured dimensions, where they appear, are the only indications of measurements on these images.

Copyright
Plans, drawings and material submitted to the Council are protected by the copyright acts (section 47, 1988 act).  You may only use material which is downloaded and/or printed for consultation purposes, to compare current applications with previous schemes and to check whether developments have been completed in accordance with approved plans.  Further copies must not be made without the prior permission of the copyright owner.