We are redesigning our website to make it easier for you to access our services online.
This is happening in phases so you'll start to notice some parts of the website looking different.
Every year we receive around 1,600 planning applications. Each application is important and we want you to be involved in the planning process.
Public comments are considered as part of the decision-making process and we encourage you to get involved.
You can make a comment supporting or objecting to the planning application based on planning issues or merits, your comments should be relevant to the proposal and not contain racist, sexist, improper or slanderous statements.
Comment on a planning application
search for the relevant planning application by keyword, application reference, postcode or a single‑line address, using the button below.
find the relevant application and select 'comment'
complete the 'make a comment' section with your details, comments and whether you support or object to the application.
Please note the comments page will reset after 30 minutes.
If you do not wish to use the website you can email developmentmanagement@dover.gov.uk or send a hard copy letter to Council Offices, White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield, Dover CT16 3PJ.
Guidance
When we decide a planning application, we can only take certain planning factors into account. These are known as 'material considerations'.
a letter or email containing more than one person’s detail is counted as one - if each signatory wishes to be considered as a separate representative, please send in separate emails/letters
we will not consider comments that are anonymous or contain offensive, defamatory or discriminatory language
we do not acknowledge receipt of individual comments or respond to questions raised.
What happens next
All comments received on a planning application are public information and are available for public inspection. Comments published on our website will include the commenter’s name.
Applications are referred to planning committee if there are more than five objections against officer advice, or at the request of a councillor on planning grounds.
Once a decision has been made, the case officer’s report and decision notice will be available to view on the website. You will also be notified of the decision.
Speaking at planning committee
Most planning applications are decided by officers. However, applications are referred to planning committee if there are six or more objections against officer advice, or at the request of a councillor on planning grounds.
You can speak on applications considered at planning committee meetings. Please note, you do not have to speak to have your views taken into account as online submissions carry equal weight.
The planning committee meets about every four weeks and an agenda with reports for each meeting is usually available six working days before the meeting.
To make sure the planning committee can deal with all of its business, only one person will be allowed to speak for and one against any particular planning application.
Interests will be registered on a first come, first served basis, but if there is more than one speaker in support of an application, preference will be given to the applicant or their agent.
If someone registers to speak against an application, the applicant or their agent will be informed.
Additional speakers
An additional speaker will be permitted where a district councillor has registered to speak for or against an application since they have an automatic right to speak. In exceptional circumstances, further speaking slots may be allocated at the discretion of the planning committee chairman.
The first person who is registered may defer to another speaker at the discretion of the chairman.
It is requested that you notify this change in writing to democraticservices@dover.gov.uk (opens in new tab) by no later than 12 noon on the day of the committee meeting. This is an opportunity for you or your substitute to address the committee. If the designated speaker decides on the night that they would prefer not to address the committee directly, then please note that submissions cannot be read out on their behalf by a council officer.
you will be able to speak for up to three minutes
to make the best use of your time, be brief and to the point - you will not be allowed to over-run your time.
written submissions, photographs or display material cannot be distributed at the meeting
confine your comments to planning issues which the committee can take into account.
avoid derogatory or defamatory statements.
You may not speak in connection with Certificates of Lawful Development, Tree Preservation Orders, enforcement or legal matters, or ask questions about other agenda items involving planning applications, but you may write to the head of planning and development control manager in the usual way.
Meetings of the planning committee take place in the council chamber of the council offices at the White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield, Dover. They start promptly at 6pm. If you are going to speak, please arrive by 5.45pm and introduce yourself to the democratic services officer who is clerking the meeting.
The clerk will ask you to sit at the back of the council chamber.
Planning applications are dealt with in agenda order and we can't predict how long it will take to debate each application. It may therefore be some time before the committee reaches the item on which you have asked to speak.
The chairman will announce the application on which you wish to speak and invite you to go to the place set aside for public speaking. All desks in the council chamber have a microphone.
Once any additional information has been reported and the planning officer has given their presentation, the objector will be invited to speak first, followed by the supporter. You will be invited to speak for up to three minutes. This timing will only be varied in the interest of balance when district councillors not on the planning committee wish to speak on an application or additional speakers have been permitted by the chairman. The time limit will be strictly enforced and the committee clerk will warn you when you have only 30 seconds left.
After you have finished speaking, you will be asked to return to your seat. You are welcome to sit and listen to the debate, but will not be able to take part in the discussion.
After the public has spoken, the planning officer will offer any necessary factual clarification and then the committee will debate the application and move to a vote.
In a small number of cases, consideration may be deferred for the committee to visit the site or to receive further information.
Once a vote has been taken, you need not stay, but you are welcome to remain for some or the rest of the meeting if you so wish.
The chairman has responsibility for the smooth running of the meeting. His/her decision on procedural matters is final.
Slander laws are very strict. If you say something about a person in public which is not true, even if you believe it to be true, you may be sued and have to pay compensation.
Therefore you need to be very careful about any criticism you wish to make of people. Councillors are able to speak more freely and bluntly in committee than members of the public. You, as a member of the public, do not have the same protection.
If you wish to question or comment on the conduct of individual officers or councillors, or upon procedural matters, this should not be done at planning committee. You must go through our separate complaints procedure.
If you would like to receive planning alerts via the Public Access service you can sign up below. You will receive notifications of new applications and decisions in your area.
