Does the number of objections decide it?

No. Planning is not a vote. One objection raising a sound material consideration can outweigh dozens that raise only non-material points. Quality and relevance matter far more than quantity.

Will the applicant see my objection?

Comments are usually published on the public register and can be read by the applicant and anyone else. Councils typically redact signatures and contact details but may show your address.

Can I object after the deadline?

You can try — case officers will often still read late comments before a decision is issued — but there is no obligation to consider them, so always aim to comment within the consultation period.

How to Object to a Planning Application

Anyone can comment on a planning application — you do not have to be a direct neighbour. But councils can only take into account material planning considerations. Knowing the difference between a comment that carries weight and one that will be set aside is the single most important thing to get right.

What counts as a valid (material) objection?

Material considerations include: overlooking and loss of privacy, loss of light or overshadowing, the scale and visual impact of the design, highway safety and parking, noise and disturbance from the proposed use, impact on a listed building or conservation area, drainage and flood risk, and conflict with the council's adopted local plan policies.

Things that are not material — and will be disregarded however strongly you feel — include: the effect on your property value, loss of a private view, boundary or ownership disputes, the identity or character of the applicant, and competition with an existing business.

Find the application

Use MB Planning Alerts to find the application near your address, or search your council's online planning register by reference number or postcode. Note the application reference and the consultation deadline — comments received after the deadline may not be considered.

Write a strong objection

Quote the application reference and your own address.
Make each point a material consideration, and say why — e.g. "the two-storey side extension would sit 1.2m from my boundary and directly overlook my kitchen window, causing a loss of privacy."
Refer to specific local plan policies where you can — councils must weigh applications against the development plan.
Be concise, factual and polite. One clear, well-evidenced letter carries more weight than a long emotional one.

Where and how to submit

Submit through the council's portal against the application, by email to the case officer, or in writing quoting the reference. Comments are normally published on the public register (your address may be shown but signatures and contact details are usually redacted).

What happens next?

The case officer weighs all material comments in their report and recommends approval or refusal. Most applications are decided by officers under "delegated powers"; larger or contentious ones go to the planning committee, where you may be able to speak for a few minutes. If permission is granted you cannot appeal as a third party, but you can ask the council to check that any conditions are complied with.