Environment, ASB & nuisance FAQs

The council's Environmental Health team is a statutory consultee on planning applications. We review and make recommendations on planning applications, so that potential problems can be identified, prevented or managed with effective planning conditions.

This makes sure that:

• existing homes, facilities, businesses or other development are not unacceptably affected by new development; and
• new development is not unacceptably affected by existing development, facilities or businesses
• When potential problems are identified, the applicant has the opportunity to look at how these can be dealt with to prevent problems during construction or afterwards.

We will normally restrict comments to environmental protection, licensing, food and public health matters. These include:

• air quality;
• dust (usually only during construction);
• lighting, if it has the potential to cause nuisance to neighbours;
• noise, including:

1. existing noise affecting the development;
2. noise associated with the construction;
3. noise from the development affecting other noise sensitive properties; and
4. noise associated with the operation of the development such as from deliveries or other vehicles using or serving the site;

• odour (smell);
• vibration (usually only during construction, but may include on-site plant); and
• waste management facilities
• Licence, permit and registration requirements

All communication on these matters is carried out internally with Planning officers, unless direct contact with outside parties is agreed with the Planning case officer.  This ensures that the Planning case officer is fully aware of any communications with the applicant, their agent or other parties.  Environmental Health will not accept or respond to any objections or complaints in relation to planning decisions.  These should be made to the Planning case officer.