The Official Sources of UK Planning Application Data
Under Section 69 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, every local planning authority in England and Wales is legally required to maintain a publicly accessible planning register containing all applications, plans, decisions, and legal agreements.
Until recently, searching planning records meant visiting individual council websites one by one. Today, the UK Government's open data initiative aggregates local authority planning datasets nationally on planning.data.gov.uk.
| Search Channel | Coverage | Search Radius | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our Planning Applications Tool | National (planning.data.gov.uk) | 0.25, 0.5, or 1.0 mile | Instant postcode lookup across recent householder & commercial cases |
| Local Council Planning Register | Individual Council Area | Address, postcode, or map pin | Full legal case files, architectural drawings & public comments |
| Physical Site Notices | Immediate street frontage | Visual proximity (affixed to lamp post/fence) | Live applications currently open for 21-day public consultation |
| Local Land Charges Search (LLC1) | Single subject property | Title boundary only | Conveyancing due diligence when buying a specific home |
What to Look For When Checking Nearby Applications
When inspecting applications within walking distance of your house, pay close attention to the following proposal categories:
1. Two-Storey Rear Extensions: Can cause substantial overshadowing and loss of daylight to adjoining living rooms and patios.
2. Dropped Kerbs & Additional Driveways: Often eliminate on-street parking spaces shared by neighbours.
3. Back-Land & Infill Developments: Erection of new detached houses in rear gardens, which introduces vehicular access roads and traffic noise.
4. Change of Use (Commercial to HMO/Flats): Subdividing single-family dwellings into multi-occupancy units can alter parking demand and neighbourhood character.
Most local councils publish a weekly list of newly validated planning applications. You can subscribe to email alerts for your immediate ward to catch proposals before public consultation deadlines expire.
How to Inspect Full Architectural Drawings and Documents
Once you discover an application of interest on our tool: