Objection to Planning Permission - Solicitors Headed Paper

MrMatisse

Hi All,

New to this forum. I wish to object to planning permission to a major commercial development near my home. I have drafted the letter and am ready to send it.

I am wondering is it possible to have this put on solicitors headed paper, simply saying my client wishes to object on the following grounds........, please forward any additional correspondence to my client (add a bit more gravitas to it)

Do any solicitors do this? How much would it cost? I dont want any other services or fees other than the posting of the letter on headed paper.

The family solicitor used in the past would charge a small fortune.

Cheers for any help/thoughts!

coylemj

I think you might have an inflated view of the effect of sending a solicitor's letter to a professional body or person. A letter from a solicitor might prove that you mean business if you think you have a case against an individual or a business for a perceived wrong but this is not such a case.

As a private citizen you have the right to object with or without a solicitor and packaging your objection in a letter from a solicitor won't add one iota of value to it so save your money and just send the letter.

Pkiernan

Won't make any difference, just cost you more money.


Objections to a major commercial development in these times will most likely have no effect on the planning permission decision other than to delay it 5 or 6 weeks.

You may be be able to change the development slightly, but be aware that your are unlikely to prevent the development from going ahead.

MrMatisse

Thanks for the responses. Money saved!

Mearfada

MrMatisse wrote: »

Thanks for the responses. Money saved!

I wouldn't altogether agree with some of the sentiment expressed here. There is merit in preparing a well thought out submission and if help is required getting a local architect/engineer/planning consultant may be worthwhile, planning depts would take on board non vexatious genuine objections. It is by no means a given that any development is predetermined due to its nature or scale, if its ill thought out and poorly located then there are obvious grounds for refusal. By objecting to the original local authority application you are also allowing yourself an opportunity to appeal the decision to An bord Pleanala subsequently.

Solicitors though in my opinion are not the way to go unless they specialise in planning law which is unlikely. Solicitors letters have lost a lot of their lustre in relation to planning issues of late and are now only used by the older generations from my own experience

Victor

You would be better off dealing with someone who is intimately familiar with the planning process, ideally a (local) town planner, but many architect, engineers and other construction professional may be able to help.

However, the fundamental is the same, the planners can only consider planning matters, nothing else.