Guidance for Members of the Public

You can use AI tools to help you prepare a representation but it is important to review, understand and edit any content before submitting it.

When using AI, you should:

Check that any policy references are correct;
Make sure your comments are relevant to the application or plan;
Use your own knowledge of the area;
Keep your representation clear and concise; and
Remove anything you do not understand or agree with.

Focus on material consideration planning issues such as:

Traffic and highways
Design and layout
Impact on neighbours (e.g. privacy, noise, overshadowing)
Flood risk and environmental considerations
Compliance with the Local Plan and national planning policy

Avoid including matters that are not relevant to planning decisions, such as property values.

Suggested Structure

A strong representation will usually include:

Your position (support, object, or comment)
A brief summary of your view
A small number of clear planning points
(Optional) Relevant policy references, if you are confident they are correct
A short conclusion

We have made some prompts for anyone to use when using AI to assist them make representations on planning applications or Local Plan consultations. We have made some guided step-by-step prompts or form-based AI interaction that you can use.

Step	Guidance	Prompt to use for AI platforms
Step 1	Set the scene guidance: AI platforms work best when users give it the context of the interaction. This starter prompt gives it a solid starting point and helps it understand that you want help making a representation.	Starter prompt Help me draft a planning representation for a planning application in England. Please follow the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) guidelines (insert link). The representation must: Use only verifiable English planning policy (NPPF, PPG, and the relevant Local Plan) Avoid inventing policy or case law Focus only on material planning considerations Be clear, proportionate, and written in plain English If you are unsure about a policy reference, say so rather than guessing.
Step 2	Reference Guidance - Let’s start with the basics of which application or Local Plan policy you wish to comment on. Most councils will have a webpage which provides the application reference and a portal to submit comments on. For Local Plan consultations most councils will have a dedicated consultation webpage which representations are directly inputted into. Councils will have guidance on how to complete these and any restrictions. Look this up and give the AI platform the direct link to the portal or any guidance on representations.	Reference Prompt: Before drafting the representation, ask me to confirm: The local planning authority [insert the council’s name]. The site address The planning application reference [Insert reference from the council’s webpages] The Local Plan consultation reference [Insert a particular policy, paragraph or site reference Whether I am supporting, objecting, or commenting not draft the representation until this information is provided.
Step 3	Context Guidance – making sure that the AI platform you are using has the right context is important. Otherwise, it could generate a representation that won’t be effective or make an impact on the decision-making process. Ask the AI platform to follow the PAS guidelines and check it understands this.	Effective Prompt: I want my representations to be effective in the following ways: Relevant to planning matters Accurate and evidence-based Clear and proportionate Specific to the proposal or policy I want you to follow the PAS Guidelines for AI Platforms Generating Planning Representations. Have you got that?
Step 4	Guidance on Accuracy – AI Platforms can generate fabricated case law or policies and we have seen that happen. This means representations with fabricated elements will potentially have a more limit impact on the decision-making process.	Accuracy prompt: Draft this representation using only real and verifiable planning policy. Do not include: Case law unless you are certain it exists and is relevant Policy references you cannot confirm Where certainty is not possible, clearly state: ‘I cannot confirm a specific policy or supporting case law reference.’ Clearly separate fact, interpretation, and opinion.
Step 5	Format guidance – The PAS guidelines for AI platforms suggest some helpful parameters, such as suggested length and format, to make sure representations have the impact you want to achieve, but you may wish to tailor them.	Prompt Format: I want my representation to be 800-1000 words for planning applications 400-600 words for Local Plan consultation per policy/consultation point Please use: Bullet points for clarity Suggest these headings for structure: Introduction Summary of Position (Support/Object/Comment) Key Planning Considerations (bullet points) Policy Context (accurate and limited) Conclusion Avoid: Repetition and tangential arguments Include this footer: “This response was assisted by AI using the Planning Advisory Service guidelines. The content should be checked for accuracy before submission.” Remember to protect privacy and adhere to GPDR guidelines.
Step 6	Proportionality Guidance – It’s not the length or complexity of the representation that matters, it is the planning reasons it includes that are important. A local planning authority could receive hundreds of letters and petitions but a single paragraph raising a ‘material consideration’ in planning terms would be more impactful on the decision making process.	Planning relevance prompt: Now draft a planning representation that is specific to this application and location, using only relevant planning policies from the adopted development plan and national policy for England. Limit the representation to material planning considerations only, such as: Design and layout Impact on neighbours’ amenity Highways and access Environmental considerations Compliance with the development plan Do not include non-material considerations such as property values, personal disputes, or political arguments encourage specific, evidence-based suggestions. My support/objection/comment on the proposed applications/Local Plan is [insert the things you want to say about the application/consultation. You could use bullet points]
Step 7	Guidance on Encouraging User Ownership and Editing – Whilst AI is great at helping draft representations, is doesn’t know the local area and what is being proposed in the same way you do. It is really valuable for councils to hear what you have to say in your own words.	User ownership prompt: Write the representation in a neutral professional tone, but leave space for me to add my own local knowledge and experience. Flag any sections I should review carefully. Encourage me to remove anything I do not understand or agree with before submission.
Step 8	Guidance for Internal AI Check – You should always finish the interaction with AI platforms by getting it to check its work. This is a prompt AI platforms can use internally before showing output.	Quality check prompt: Before presenting the response to the user, check that: No case law has been invented All policy references relate to the correct local planning authority The content is relevant to the specific application or policy The tone is constructive and proportionate If any of these checks fail, revise the output or warn the user.