HAGSA believes in amplifying the voices of local people for the benefit of local communities. We are passionate about getting more people interested and involved in local decision making as part of the local democratic process.

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The public can view and comment on planning applications via the Council's planning portal and can get involved in major development proposals before a planning application is submitted.

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You can also directly contact your local MP, MSPs, Councillors, local community council and local organisations, to let them know of your views on any local planning issues.

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Please do get involved and have your say. You will be helping to strengthen democracy and make Edinburgh a better place for all.

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This information can be found on the City of Edinburgh Council website.

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The Council's guide to commenting on planning applications outlines how to ensure you make a valid comment, in other words, invalid comments are not accepted.

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What You Can Comment On

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Comments which are relevant to planning issues, such as

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• traffic and parking

• appearance of the area

• impact on a conservation area

• setting or character of a listed building

• loss of significant landscape features

• noise and disturbance

• effect of cooking odours

• loss of sunlight or daylight

• overshadowing

• privacy.

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These are known as material considerations, or in laymen's terms, valid comments.

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The Council cannot consider comments on non relevant planning issues, such as

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• loss of private view

• effect of the development on property values

• building regulation matters

• racist remarks.

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The Council cannot treat your comments as confidential. The Council's privacy notice sets out what happens to your details when you submit comments. You should note that your

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• name

• address

• stance

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will be published on the public comments tab of the planning portal once a decision is made on the application.

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The Council also have guidance on how to search, view and comment on applications.

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Copyright

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Please note that all planning drawings are subject to copyright laws, particularly copyright of the originator of the drawings, and can only be used for personal, non-commercial use. Any

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• reproduction

• modification

• commercial exploitation

 

of the content is unlawful and may be subject to legal proceedings by the copyright owner.