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

Got questions?

Common questions

Is this legal advice?

No. Planning Guard is software that helps you structure objections and explore material planning themes. A qualified solicitor or planning consultant can advise on your specific case.

Do you submit my objection to the council for me?

No. You lodge your own representation through your authority's planning portal, email, or whatever process they publish. We provide drafts and a scan to help you prepare; you remain responsible for what you send and for meeting deadlines.

How long does the free scan take?

About five minutes end-to-end once you describe your concerns. The AI check itself is often under a minute after you submit — keep the tab open until results appear.

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

No. You can run the free scan and see your results 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.

What if the free scan finds nothing material?

We aim to say so clearly so you can stop before paying. You only pay if you want the downloadable letter or bundle.

What do I get after payment?

Objection Letter (£7.99): an editable objection letter draft in Word and PDF, written to stay readable — you add personal detail and edit heavily before lodging. Full Toolkit (a £7.00 add-on once you own the letter, £14.99 total): adds a Planning Analysis Report, councillor briefing, and committee speaking points (experience-led, not a policy essay). All in Word and PDF. You submit via your council's process. Optional Case Watch (£4.99/mo) is sold separately.

Should I choose Word or PDF?

Same content in both. Word (.docx) is usually best for editing before you lodge. PDF is handy for a fixed layout or printing. The letter includes bracketed placeholders for your name, address, and contact details.

What happens to documents I upload?

We extract text to help the scan and store files only as needed for that purpose. Uploaded files are subject to automatic deletion after a short retention window — see our Privacy policy. Do not upload others' personal data unless you have a proper basis to do so.

Who can use Planning Guard?

Anyone preparing a material-planning objection in good faith — neighbours, residents' groups, or others with a legitimate interest — provided you use your own details and edit outputs before submitting. We do not lodge representations on your behalf.

Is Case Watch a free tool?

No. Free tools under /tools are one-off research helpers (postcode search, constraints, deadlines). Case Watch is a paid monthly product that monitors a specific council reference and emails you when key details change. Letters remain one-off purchases.

Is this only for England and Wales?

Our guides are mainly written for England and Wales. You can start a case for UK councils: the scan and drafts use national policy framing matched to your authority. The service is built primarily around the English NPPF; Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland each have different national frameworks — read our Terms and official sources for your area.

Will the council accept a letter that used AI assistance?

Representations are normally judged on substance and compliance with process, not on how you drafted them. You must still check accuracy, add your facts and policy references, and comply with your council's validation rules. Planning Guard does not guarantee acceptance or outcomes.

How do I pay — is it secure?

Card payments go through Stripe. We do not store your full card details on our servers. The checkout total matches the tier price — we do not add VAT.

Refunds and consumer rights

UK consumer rights may apply. Digital content rules are nuanced — see our Terms & conditions and contact us if access or downloads fail after payment.