How many planning applications has Ards and North Down Borough Council received?

Ards and North Down Borough Council received 563 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 92%.

How long does Ards and North Down Borough Council take to decide applications?

Ards and North Down Borough Council takes an average of 99 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 Ards and North Down Borough Council?

Ards and North Down Borough Council approves 92% of planning applications, compared to a national average of approximately 87%.

How do I object to a planning application in Ards and North Down Borough Council?

Submit your representation to Ards and North Down Borough Council during the public consultation period — typically 21 days from when the application was publicised. Planning Signal shows the consultation deadline for each application and links directly to the Ards and North Down Borough Council planning portal.

Ards and North Down Borough Council Planning Applications

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

Region: Northern Ireland

About Ards and North Down Borough Council

Ards and North Down Borough Council is a local authority in Northern Ireland, formed on 1 April 2015 through the merger of Ards Borough Council and North Down Borough Council. The council began operating as a shadow authority ahead of its official establishment, following the first elections held on 22 May 2014. This council oversees planning applications and development within the borough, making it a key resource for anyone researching planning matters in the area.

Governance

Chair: Cllr Gillian McCollum (Alliance)

Founded: 1 April 2015

Last election: 18 May 2023

Political composition: DUP (14)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Ards and North Down Borough Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Ards and North Down Borough Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Ards and North Down Borough 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: Ards and North Down
Parliamentary constituency: Strangford
LSOA: Comber_H

Crime Statistics

172 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 64
anti-social-behaviour: 47
shoplifting: 21
drugs: 12
criminal-damage-arson: 10
other-theft: 6
other-crime: 5
public-order: 4
burglary: 1
theft-from-the-person: 1
vehicle-crime: 1

Keyword Scorecard

Planning constraint analysis based on the last 24 months of applications in Ards and North Down Borough 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 Ards and North Down Borough Council based on the last 24 months of planning data.

Towns and villages in Ards and North Down Borough Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Ards and North Down Borough Council area.

Monitoring Stations

2 flood monitoring stations near Ards and North Down Borough Council.

Bangor
Bangor

A brief summary of Ards and North Down Borough Council

The Ards and North Down Borough Council area recorded 172 crimes in the most recent reporting period. Prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.

The council area encompasses 26 towns and villages, including Newtownards. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Ards and North Down Borough Council Planning Applications

Planning Signal provides a free, fast planning search for Ards and North Down Borough Council. Use the postcode search above to find planning applications near any address in the Ards and North Down Borough Council area. Unlike the official Ards and North Down Borough 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 Ards and North Down Borough 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 Ards and North Down Borough Council.

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 563 planning applications Ards and North Down Borough Council received. Of these, 92% were approved, with an average decision time of 99 days.

This is slightly above the national average of approximately 87%, indicating a broadly favourable planning environment in Ards and North Down Borough Council.

With an average of 99 days, decisions in Ards and North Down Borough Council take longer than the statutory targets. Applicants should budget for a 4-month timeline and consider pre-application discussions to avoid delays.

The most common application types in Ards and North Down Borough Council were full planning applications (398), discharge of conditions (50), advertising consent (35). Full planning applications account for 71% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 4 large-scale (major) developments, 5 medium-scale applications, 554 smaller schemes were submitted.

Application Outcomes

Approved: 295 applications
Refused: 11 applications
Withdrawn: 13 applications
Awaiting decision: 244 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.