Lighthorne Parish Council receives notification from Stratford District Council (SDC) of all planning applications within the parish, and is treated by SDC as a consultee. If the parish council takes a position on an application that differs from the recommendation of the case officer, and submits that position before a stated deadline, then the application will go before SDC’s Planning Committee at the next meeting that has room on the agenda. The same applies if the Ward Member submits a response at odds with the case officer. If there are no representations made, or if they all concur with the case officer’s recommendation, the case officer is able to make a decision under delegated powers and the Planning Committee need not be involved.
At the Planning Committee meeting the Ward Member is able to speak for 5 minutes, the Parish Council for 3 minutes, the applicant for 3 minutes, and others supporting or objecting may speak for a total of 3 minutes for each group. After speaking questions may be asked by members of the Planning Committee, but speakers may not make any other representation other than succinct answers to those questions. After speakers and questions the Planning Committee debate the application and then take a vote. The proceedings are recorded and may be reviewed from a few days after the meeting.
Lighthorne Village lies within a Conservation Area. To understand the planning implications of this, visit the Conservation Areas page. SDC maintain plans of Built Up Area Boundaries (BUAB) for settlements within the district, including Lighthorne village. All other factors being equal, applications for new development outside of the BUAB are less likely to gain support than those within the BUAB.
Residents intending to submit a planning application are welcome to discuss their application with the Parish Council, and are encouraged to approach all of their neighbours who might be affected before submitting their application. Consultation is an important part of the planning process. If your application is not controversial and does not meet with objections then the Parish Council will most likely not make any representation. If, however, your application receives strong objection or indeed strong support then the Parish Council will consider carefully whether to support or object to the application.
Anyone is able to submit comments in support or objecting to a planning application on the SDC planning web site. Your comments will be made public, including your name and address. After the application has been determined your comments are no longer visible. Individually worded comments with valid planning arguments may carry more weight than orchestrated comments where several people repeat the same thing verbatim. If you want to be alerted to new planning applications in your area you can sign up to SDC’s planning application e-mail alerts.
Other than being able ensure the planning application is referred to the Planning Committee the influence of the Parish Council is limited, and certainly no guarantee of a decision one way or another. Planning applications on which the Parish Council has taken a position, with links to the application on the SDC web site, and to the webcast of the Planning Committee meeting are shown below:
| Application | Site | Decision | PC Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23/00896/FUL | Sports Field | Withdrawn on 11 May 23 | Applicant |
| 22/03486/FUL | Sports Field | Withdrawn on 21 Dec 22 | Applicant |
| 22/01385/VARY Webcast | M40 Noise Bund | Granted on 9 Nov 22 | Object |
| 22/00229/TREE | Southview | Granted on 7 Mar 22 | Objection withdrawn |
| 21/03742/FUL | Stone House | Granted on 10 Feb 22 | Support |
| 21/01035/FUL Webcast | Stepping Stones | Granted on 15 Sep 21 | Object |
| 21/00948/FUL | Oberry Fields | Granted on 25 Jun 21 | Objection withdrawn |
| APP/J3720/W/20/3262048 SDC Appeals page | Hill Farm | Appeal allowed on 8 Feb 21 | No objection (with reservations) |
| 20/01719/FUL | 14 Mountford Rise | Withdrawn on 29 Sep 20 | Object |
| 20/01654/REM Webcast | Moreton Morrell Lane | Granted on 13 Jan 21 | Object |
| 20/00897/FUL | Hill Farm | Refused on 10 Jul 20 | No objection (with reservations) |
| 20/00676/FUL | Sports Field | Granted on 8 Jun 20 | Applicant |
| 20/00276/FUL | Home Farm | Refused on 6 May 20 | Object |
| APP/J3720/W/20/3245202 SDC Appeals page | Home Farm | Appeal dismissed on 25 Jun 20 | Object |
| 19/02256/FUL | Home Farm | Refused on 31 Oct 19 | Object |
| 19/01838/VARY Webcast | Home Farm | Granted on 26 Nov 19 | Objection withdrawn |
| APP/J3720/C/18/3206999 SDC Appeals page | Home Farm | Appeal dismissed on 8 May 19 | Object |
| 18/02053/FUL | Home Farm | Refused on 20 Sep 18 | Object |
| 18/01261/FUL | Home Farm | Refused on 28 Jun 18 | Object |
| 18/00549/FUL | Home Farm | Refused on 1 May 18 | Object |
| 18/00215/FUL | Curacy Farm | Granted on 13 Jul 18 | Objection withdrawn |
| 17/03404/FUL | Home Farm | Withdrawn on 30 Jan 18 | Object |
| 17/03370/FUL Webcast | Verney Close | Granted on 21 Mar 18 | Object |
| 17/03344/OUT Webcast | Moreton Morrell Lane | Granted on 7 Mar 18 | Support |
| 17/01073/FUL | Hill Farm | Withdrawn on 26 Oct 17 | Object |
| 17/01059/FUL Webcast | Lighthorne Rough | Granted on 4 Oct 17 | Support |
| 17/00654/FUL Webcast | Home Farm | Granted on 22 Jun 17 | Object |
| 16/04074/FUL | Pound Green | Refused on 27 Jul 17 | Object |
| 16/03538/OUT Webcast | Moreton Morrell Lane | Refused on 10 Feb 17 | Support |
| 16/02389/FUL Webcast | Lighthorne Rough | Refused on 8 Dec 16 | Support |