VALID PLANNING GROUNDS - 
(SDC)
1.   Impact on the character and appearance of the area or street
     a)   Appropriateness of design, detailing, materials
     b)   Bulk, massing, visual dominance
2.   Compliance with national, regional and local planning policy and guidance
     a)   Section 54A of the 1990 Town and Country Planning Act (as amended) requires
that planning applications shall be determined in accordance with the statutory Development
Plan unless material considerations suggest otherwise.
     b)   Valid to object/support on basis of variance/compliance with policy
     c)   Not valid to disagree with policy
3.   Landscape impact
     a)   Visual prominence
     b)   Detract from scenic quality by virtue of .... height, colour, etc
     c)   Inappropriateness of planting details - ie non native hedging in rural
setting
                                   ie bunding in a rural landscape
4.   Environmental issues
     a)   Noise, ie nightclub, air conditioning plant
     b)   Emissions, ie cooking smells
5.   Traffic generation and highway safety
     a)   Capacity of the network or suitability of the junction/access to accommodate
increased traffic movements or changes in the type of movement and the implications for road
and pedestrian safety.
6.   Neighbour impact
     a)   Overshadowing, overlooking, loss of privacy - to the detriment of residential
amenity.
(MDC)
1.   Employment and rural economy
2.   Amenity and noise
3.   Design and appearance (this is subjective and difficulties can arise)
4.   Air quality and pollution
5.   Highway safety
6.   Planning history
7.   Wildlife habitat

INVALID PLANNING GROUNDS - 
(SDC)
1.   Loss of view
     a)   Not the same as loss of light, visual domination or landscape impact
2.   Personal circumstances
     a)   Permission runs with the land not the applicant
     b)   Rarely sufficient to outweigh a planning objection
3.   Property devaluation
     a)   Though factors that result in devaluation may be valid, ie loss of privacy or light
4.   Moral objections, ie to betting shops, amusement arcades
     a)   Legal matter not planning
5.   Private rights of way
     a)   Local planning authorities assess the suitability of the access, it is up to the
applicant to ensure he had control of it.
6.   Local support or opposition
     a)   Planning is based on valid planning grounds, not consensus!
7.   Matters covered by other legislation
     a)   ie pub/club opening times covered by licensing
8.   Development already started
     a)   Does not constitute an offence, only when an Enforcement Notice is not
complied with.
     b)   Enforcement is discretionary and undertaken when it is expedient to do so.
     c)   Local planning authorities should not serve an Enforcement Notice if it is likely
to grant permission - risk of compensation.
(MDC)
1.   Loss of property value or view
2.   Personal circumstances or NEED for the development
3.   Quality of workmanship
4.    Tidying up' the site (other remedies are available)
5.   Retrospective nature of application (ie development has already started or been
completed)
6.   Conflict with other legislation