How many planning applications has Aberdeen City Council received?

Aberdeen City Council received 1,234 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 91%.

How long does Aberdeen City Council take to decide planning applications?

Aberdeen City Council takes an average of 57 days to decide planning applications. The statutory target is 8 weeks (56 days) for householder and minor applications, and 13 weeks for major applications.

What is the planning approval rate for Aberdeen City Council?

Aberdeen City Council approves 91% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I search Aberdeen City Council planning applications?

You can search Aberdeen City Council planning applications by postcode on Planning Signal. Enter any postcode in the Aberdeen City Council area to see all nearby applications, filter by type, and track decisions in real time.

How do I object to a planning application in Aberdeen City Council?

To object to a Aberdeen City Council planning application, you must submit your representation to Aberdeen City Council during the public consultation period — typically 21 days from the date the application was publicised. Planning Signal shows you the consultation deadline for each application and links directly to the Aberdeen City Council planning portal where objections can be submitted.

Aberdeen City Council Planning Applications

Search and explore Aberdeen City Council planning applications. Planning Signal is your free alternative to the Aberdeen City Council planning portal — search all recent applications, track decisions, and get alerts on new developments in the area.

Region: Scotland

About Aberdeen City Council

Aberdeen City Council serves as the local authority for Aberdeen City, one of Scotland's 32 council areas, established in its current form in 1996. The city has a rich governance history, transitioning from a corporation since the twelfth century to the City of Aberdeen District Council from 1975 to 1996. This council plays a vital role in managing planning applications and urban development within the area.

Population: 200,680 (2016) · Area: 65.1 km²

Website: https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/

Governance

Chief Executive: Angela Scott, since July 2014

Seats: 45 councillors

Founded: 1996

Last election: 5 May 2022

Political composition: SNP (19), Liberal Democrats (4), Labour (11), Conservative (6), Reform UK (1), Independent (4)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Aberdeen City Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Aberdeen City Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Aberdeen City Council mention key planning constraints like heritage, flood risk, and environmental concerns
Council Boundary Map - Interactive map showing the council boundary and application locations
Full Details - View complete application details, dates and decision status

Council Insights

Property Prices

Area Information

Admin district: Aberdeen City
Parliamentary constituency: Aberdeen North
LSOA: Kingswells North and Newhills - 01

Crime Statistics

0 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Keyword Scorecard

Planning constraint analysis based on the last 24 months of applications in Aberdeen City Council.

Ecology & Wildlife Constraints (keywords: bats, bat survey, bat roost, great crested newt, GCN...)
Trees & Landscape (keywords: tree preservation order, TPO, arboricultural, tree survey, root protection area...)
Flood & Drainage (keywords: flood zone 2, flood zone 3, flood risk assessment, FRA, surface water...)
Heritage & Conservation (keywords: listed building, grade II, grade II*, grade I, conservation area...)
Green Belt (keywords: green belt, inappropriate development, very special circumstances, openness)
Highways & Access (keywords: visibility splays, highway authority objection, access arrangement, parking provision, transport statement...)
Refusal & Risk Indicators (keywords: refusal, delegated refusal, appeal dismissed, overdevelopment, character and appearance...)
Planning Process & Appeals (keywords: appeal lodged, appeal allowed, appeal dismissed, public inquiry, inspector)

Planning Activity Summary

Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Aberdeen City Council based on the last 24 months of planning data.

Towns and villages in Aberdeen City Council

55 towns and villages. Click any town to search for planning applications nearby.

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Aberdeen City Council area.

Monitoring Stations

3 flood monitoring stations near Aberdeen City Council.

Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen

A brief summary of Aberdeen City Council

There were no crimes reported in the Aberdeen City Council area during the most recent reporting period.

The council area encompasses 55 towns and villages, including Aberdeen and Dyce. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Aberdeen City Council Planning Applications

Planning Signal provides a free, fast planning search for Aberdeen City Council. Use the postcode search above to find planning applications near any address in the Aberdeen City Council area. Unlike the official Aberdeen City Council planning portal, Planning Signal lets you save searches, watch individual applications, and receive email alerts when decisions are made or new applications are submitted nearby.

Whether you're a resident checking Aberdeen City Council planning applications near your home, a homeowner tracking your own application, or a property professional monitoring the local market, Planning Signal gives you the tools to stay informed about planning and development across Aberdeen City Council.

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 1,234 planning applications Aberdeen City Council received. Of these, 91% were approved, with an average decision time of 57 days.

This is slightly above the national average of approximately 87%, indicating a broadly favourable planning environment in Aberdeen City Council.

At 57 days on average, decisions in Aberdeen City Council slightly exceed the 8-week statutory target for minor applications, though this is common across many councils.

The most common application types in Aberdeen City Council were full planning applications (656), tree works (162), listed building and heritage (123). Full planning applications account for 53% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 20 large-scale (major) developments, 748 medium-scale applications, 466 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

Application Outcomes

Approved: 683 applications
Refused: 44 applications
Withdrawn: 26 applications
Awaiting decision: 481 applications

Related Planning Guides

What Is Planning Permission in the UK? — Planning permission is the formal approval you need from your local council before making certain changes to a building or piece of land.
What Is Permitted Development? — Permitted development rights allow certain building works and changes of use without the need to apply for planning permission.
How Long Does Planning Permission Take? — Typical timelines for planning permission decisions in the UK, from submission to approval, and what can cause delays.