Why It’s Always Best to Tell Your Neighbours Before Submitting a Planning Application

When it comes to preparing a planning application with the best chance of achieving a successful outcome, one of the most underrated and crucial steps is canvassing neighbours and your local community before submitting the application.

At Salmon Planning + Architecture we always advise our clients to be upfront and considerate to their neighbours and local community. We’ve seen time and time again how early engagement with neighbours can improve outcomes, reduce objections and subsequent delays.

Whether you’re proposing to build a new home, extension, or rural development, here’s why telling your neighbours first can be the smartest move you make.

1. Build Trust and Avoid Unnecessary Objections

Receiving a formal consultation letter from the local council about a neighbouring development can be jarring and immediately elicit a negative response. If your neighbours first hear about your proposal through official channels, they may feel excluded or blindsided. This often leads to planning objections - many of which stem from misunderstandings rather than genuine concerns.

By having an informal conversation first, you can explain your plans, show consideration, and potentially resolve any worries before they escalate.

2. Reduce Delays in the Planning Application Process

Objections from neighbours don’t automatically lead to a refusal - but they can result in added scrutiny, revised plans, or even appeals. As experienced chartered planning consultants and architects in Devon, Somerset and across the South West, we know that early engagement can help you refine your proposal in line with local sensitivities, saving time and money in the long run.

3. Align with Best Practice and National Guidance

National planning guidance, including the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), increasingly emphasises the importance of community consultation and collaborative development. Local planning authorities also favour applications that demonstrate awareness of local context and impact on neighbours.

By proactively speaking to neighbours, you show that your approach aligns with modern planning principles and values.

4. Support Localism and Positive Development in Rural Areas

With the rise of Neighbourhood Plans and greater emphasis on local input, particularly in rural areas like Somerset, Devon, Dorset and Cornwall, showing that you’ve engaged your neighbours supports the localism agenda. It also strengthens your position should your application be subject to committee review or public scrutiny.

5. It’s a Simple, Effective Strategy That Works

At Salmon Planning + Architecture, we believe the best planning outcomes come from openness, dialogue, and respect for local communities. Informing your neighbours early is a straightforward step that can avoid friction, ease the decision-making process, and ultimately help secure planning permission faster and more smoothly.

Ready to Submit a Planning Application?

If you're considering seeking planning permission for a development in the South West and want to ensure a smooth application process, Salmon Planning + Architecture can help. Our team of expert chartered planning consultants and expert architectural team will guide you through every step - from initial concept, planning and neighbour engagement to design, submission, and appeal if needed.

📍 Offices in Wells, Somerset and Exeter, Devon  📞 Contact us today for professional planning advice tailored to your project