How many planning applications has Babergh District Council received?

Babergh District Council received 3,275 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 90%.

How long does Babergh District Council take to decide planning applications?

Babergh District Council takes an average of 52 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 Babergh District Council?

Babergh District Council approves 90% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I object to a planning application in Babergh District Council?

To object to a Babergh District Council planning application, you must submit your representation to Babergh District 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 Babergh District Council planning portal where objections can be submitted.

Can I appeal a Babergh District Council planning decision?

Yes. If Babergh District Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 440 appeals were lodged against Babergh District Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 28% success rate.

Babergh District Council Planning Applications

Q: How do I search Babergh District Council planning applications?

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

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

Region: East of England

About Babergh District Council

Babergh District Council serves a predominantly rural area in Suffolk, England, with a population of approximately 92,300 as of 2021. The district is home to just two towns, Sudbury and Hadleigh, and the council has been operating from shared offices in Ipswich since 2017, moving from its previous base in Hadleigh. The name "Babergh" is derived from the historical Babergh Hundred, reflecting the area's rich medieval heritage. For those researching planning applications, understanding the council's administrative setup and geographical context is essential.

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Babergh District Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Babergh District Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Babergh District 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

Average property sale price: £780,200 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: East Suffolk
Parliamentary constituency: Suffolk Coastal
LSOA: East Suffolk 019B

Crime Statistics

6 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

criminal-damage-arson: 3
anti-social-behaviour: 2
vehicle-crime: 1

Keyword Scorecard

Planning constraint analysis based on the last 24 months of applications in Babergh District 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 Babergh District Council based on the last 24 months of planning data.

Towns and villages in Babergh District Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Babergh District Council area.

Monitoring Stations

8 flood monitoring stations near Babergh District Council.

Saxmundham (River Fromus)
BENHALL BRIDGE GS
KNODISHALL LS
KNODISHALL LS
Orford Ness (Suffolk Coast)
Snape (Suffolk Coast)
Rainfall station
Rainfall station

A brief summary of Babergh District Council

The average property sale price in the Babergh District Council area is £780,200, based on 50 recent transactions.

Neighbourhood safety in the Babergh District Council area is generally good, with 6 crimes reported in the most recent period.

Conservation Areas

There are 29 designated conservation areas within the Babergh District Council area. Planning applications within or near these areas are subject to additional scrutiny to preserve architectural and historic character. Permitted development rights may be restricted.

Conservation areas include: Glemsford, Shotley Gate, Hartest, Brent Eleigh, Brettenham, Boxford, Kettlebaston, Monks Eleigh, Nayland, Chelsworth, and 19 more.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Babergh District Council area includes 3 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): Crag Pit, Aldeburgh SSSI, Alde-Ore Estuary SSSI, Leiston - Aldeburgh SSSI; 1 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): Suffolk Coast & Heaths; 1 Special Areas of Conservation (SAC): Alde-Ore & Butley Estuaries; 2 Special Protection Areas (SPA): Outer Thames Estuary, Alde-Ore Estuary; 1 Ramsar Wetland Sites: Alde-Ore Estuary. These designations may affect planning decisions, as proposals near protected sites require environmental impact assessment and may face additional restrictions.

The council area encompasses 881 towns and villages, including Aldeburgh, Beccles, Bury St Edmunds, Eye, Felixstowe and Framlingham. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Babergh District Council Planning Applications

Planning Signal provides a free, fast planning search for Babergh District Council. Use the postcode search above to find planning applications near any address in the Babergh District Council area. Unlike the official Babergh District 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 Babergh District 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 Babergh District Council.

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 3,275 planning applications Babergh District Council received. Of these, 90% were approved, with an average decision time of 52 days.

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

The average decision time of 52 days is within the government's 8-week statutory target for minor applications, indicating an efficient planning department.

The most common application types in Babergh District Council were discharge of conditions (971), full planning applications (891), tree works (499).

In terms of development scale, 14 large-scale (major) developments, 343 medium-scale applications, 2,918 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

440 planning appeals were lodged against Babergh District Council decisions, of which 118 were allowed and 303 were dismissed (28% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 1,798 applications
Refused: 126 applications
Withdrawn: 76 applications
Awaiting decision: 1,275 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.