Is the scan really free?

Yes. You describe your concerns, choose your council, and we identify which material planning grounds apply — at no cost. You only pay if you want the downloadable objection letter or toolkit.

Do I need to create an account to run the scan?

No. You can describe your concerns, choose your council, and run the free scan without registering. You will only be asked to create a free account if you want to save your results or unlock a draft letter. No payment card is required at any point until you choose to unlock a letter.

Do I need any planning knowledge?

No. You explain in plain English how the proposal would affect you. The scan helps sort which of those concerns may carry weight in planning terms — and which usually do not. You do not need to quote policies; many effective objections are short and personal.

Will the council consider my objection?

Representations are assessed against planning law and policy. If your points engage material considerations, they can be weighed like any other comment. Planning Guard helps you explain your impacts clearly — it does not guarantee an outcome, and your local ward councillor may also be able to help you for free.

What if I've already missed the consultation deadline?

Aim to submit before the published closing date. Some councils accept late comments at their discretion, but you shouldn't rely on that. If you're close to the deadline, start the free scan now — it only takes 5 minutes.

Is this legal advice?

No. Planning Guard is a drafting tool, not a law firm or planning consultancy. Outputs are drafts for you to check and edit before lodging. For high-stakes cases, consider instructing a qualified planning consultant or solicitor.

What do I actually get for £7.99?

An editable objection letter in Word (.docx) and PDF: plain-language structure and prompts so you can describe how the proposal affects you, plus themes from your scan. Personalise it heavily before sending — individual letters read more clearly than copied blocks of policy text.

Case Watch is optional paid monitoring (£4.99/month) for a specific planning reference. We check we can track it on the council portal before you pay, then email you when key details change. It is separate from the free postcode tools and from one-off letter purchases.

Free scan · UK councils · Plain English first

Free planning objection scan & letter — say exactly how it affects you

In a few minutes, see which of your concerns may carry planning weight — then optionally download an editable draft letter (Word & PDF) to send to the council yourself.

Start my free scan

No account needed · no card

See an example letter

Already have an account? Sign in · How the free scan works · How to object

See how it works

Short overview — free scan, draft letter, you submit to the council.

Who uses Planning Guard?

Neighbours worried about a development nearby

Extensions, loft conversions, HMOs, new builds — anything that affects your home, light, privacy, or street.

Residents fighting a local planning application

Concerned about a development in your community — flats, change of use, commercial premises near homes.

People who've received a consultation letter

Got a letter through your door about a planning application? You have a short window to respond — we help you use it.

Free tools

Research before you object or buy

Postcode tools for constraints, nearby applications, deadlines, and ward & council lookup — then start a free material-grounds scan when you are ready to draft your letter.

Live council register search in planning research: 275 of 380 planning authorities.

All free tools →

What each tool returns

On-page = answers shown on Planning Guard. Links out = you continue on an official site.

Tool	On Planning Guard	Official links
Planning research (all-in-one)	Constraints, applications, ward & council (live register ~275/380 councils)	Council portal when needed; deeper application search with radius
Constraints checker	Designations at your postcode (England-focused)	Council portal for Wales / Scotland / NI
Planning objection deadline	Typical day counts by application type	Portal for the real deadline
Ward & council lookup	Ward and council name	Councillor finder (51 councils) or GOV.UK
45° daylight calculator	Plan-view loss-of-light test	None

Browse all free tools

Simple 3-step process

From concern to letter in under an hour

No planning knowledge needed. We ask the questions — you answer in plain English.

Step 1

Free scan — see what may carry planning weight

Tell us about the application and how it would affect you. We flag which concerns may be material in planning terms — and which often are not (for example, property value alone). Takes about 5 minutes. Free.

Step 2

Get your letter — ready to edit

Unlock a draft objection letter (PDF & Word) for £7.99. It is written to be readable and personal, not a wall of policy quotes — you edit, add detail only you know, and send it yourself. The full toolkit (£14.99) adds a briefing note and committee speaking points focused on your experience.

Step 3

Submit before the deadline

Deadlines are typically 21 days from when the application is validated. Your letter goes to the council directly — Planning Guard helps you draft it. You stay in control.

Start my free scan — takes 5 minutes

No account needed · no card · Pay only when you want your letter

What we look for

Themes that can carry planning weight

Decisions turn on material planning considerations — not on every worry you might have. You do not need to sound like an expert: a simple explanation of how you would be affected can be enough. The scan maps what you describe to common material themes (below).

Overlooking & loss of privacy

Loss of light & overshadowing

Noise, odour & disturbance

Highways & parking

Design & character of the area

Heritage & listed buildings

Flooding & drainage

Trees & biodiversity

Green Belt impact

Change of use concerns

Don't worry if you're not sure which apply to your case — the free scan works that out for you. What counts as material?

Pricing

Free to scan. Pay only when you want your letter.

Letters are one-off · Case Watch optional from £4.99/mo. No hidden fees. You only pay if you want the draft letter, toolkit, or monitoring — many people also talk to their ward councillor for free local advice first.

Free

£0

Material grounds scan

What may carry planning weight
What usually does not (e.g. value alone)
Decide before you pay
Any UK council

Start free scan

No card required — start free

Case Watch

Separate from letters. Track a specific planning reference after we verify we can monitor it on the council portal. Change-only alerts — usually within 24 hours. Not a free research tool.

£4.99/mo

Cancel anytime · Idox + Agile portals · letters stay one-off from £7.99

Check Case Watch for a case

Free help — we signpost this on purpose

Your ward councillor can often advise residents at no cost; your council website usually lists them. Your local planning authority publishes how and when to comment — see Comment on a planning application (GOV.UK) and your council’s planning portal. Planning Guard is an optional paid draft after the free scan; it does not replace those channels.

Letters are one-off · Case Watch is optional at £4.99/mo. Full pricing & FAQs

Honest about what we are — and what we're not

What Planning Guard does

Separates concerns that may carry planning weight from ones that usually do not
Produces a readable draft letter for you to personalise — not a stack of policy quotes
Covers UK councils; guides focus on England & Wales
Gives you an editable draft — you lodge it yourself

What we don't do

We are not a law firm or planning consultancy
We don't guarantee refusal of the application
We don't submit your letter to the council for you
We don't provide legal advice — check with a professional for high-stakes cases

Outputs are drafts for you to check before lodging — you remain responsible for what you send to the authority. Terms · Privacy · Contact

Not ready to scan yet? Start with the guides.

Free, plain-English guides on how planning objections work — no account needed.

How to object to a planning application

Step-by-step from finding the application to lodging your objection.

What are material planning considerations?

The arguments that carry weight — and the ones that don't.

How to structure your objection letter

Section order, evidence tips, and the tone officers expect.

Deadlines & consultation periods

How long you have to object and what happens if you miss it.

Browse all guides

Common questions

Questions before you start

Is the scan really free?: Yes. You describe your concerns, choose your council, and we identify which material planning grounds apply — at no cost. You only pay if you want the downloadable objection letter or toolkit.
Do I need to create an account to run the scan?: No. You can describe your concerns, choose your council, and run the free scan without registering. You will only be asked to create a free account if you want to save your results or unlock a draft letter. No payment card is required at any point until you choose to unlock a letter.
Do I need any planning knowledge?: No. You explain in plain English how the proposal would affect you. The scan helps sort which of those concerns may carry weight in planning terms — and which usually do not. You do not need to quote policies; many effective objections are short and personal.
Will the council consider my objection?: Representations are assessed against planning law and policy. If your points engage material considerations, they can be weighed like any other comment. Planning Guard helps you explain your impacts clearly — it does not guarantee an outcome, and your local ward councillor may also be able to help you for free.
What if I've already missed the consultation deadline?: Aim to submit before the published closing date. Some councils accept late comments at their discretion, but you shouldn't rely on that. If you're close to the deadline, start the free scan now — it only takes 5 minutes.
Is this legal advice?: No. Planning Guard is a drafting tool, not a law firm or planning consultancy. Outputs are drafts for you to check and edit before lodging. For high-stakes cases, consider instructing a qualified planning consultant or solicitor.
What do I actually get for £7.99?: An editable objection letter in Word (.docx) and PDF: plain-language structure and prompts so you can describe how the proposal affects you, plus themes from your scan. Personalise it heavily before sending — individual letters read more clearly than copied blocks of policy text.
What is Case Watch?: Case Watch is optional paid monitoring (£4.99/month) for a specific planning reference. We check we can track it on the council portal before you pay, then email you when key details change. It is separate from the free postcode tools and from one-off letter purchases.

More questions? Full FAQ on the pricing page · Contact us

Ready to object?

Check what may count in planning terms — free.

The scan takes about 5 minutes. You only pay if you want the draft letter, toolkit, or optional Case Watch. No obligation.

Start my free scan

No account needed · no card

View pricing first

Already watching a case? Case Watch from £4.99/mo

Free scan — no card neededUK councils coveredEditable Word & PDFNot legal advice