How many planning applications has Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council received?

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council received 250 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 57%.

How long does Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council take to decide planning applications?

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council takes an average of 90 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 Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council?

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council approves 57% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I object to a planning application in Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council?

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

Can I appeal a Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council planning decision?

Yes. If Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 388 appeals were lodged against Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 23% success rate.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Planning Applications

Q: How do I search Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council planning applications?

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

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

Region: Yorkshire and the Humber

About Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Governance

Leader: Stephen Houghton (Labour), since 1996

Chair: Dave Leech (Labour), since 16 May 2025

Chief Executive: Sarah Norman, since July 2019

Seats: 63 councillors (term: 4 years)

Founded: 1 April 1974

Last election: 2 May 2024

Political composition: Labour (46), Liberal Democrat (12), Conservative (1), Independents (4)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Barnsley Metropolitan 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: Doncaster
Parliamentary constituency: Doncaster North
LSOA: Doncaster 002A

Crime Statistics

129 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 44
shoplifting: 33
anti-social-behaviour: 17
other-theft: 9
other-crime: 8
criminal-damage-arson: 5
vehicle-crime: 4
burglary: 3
public-order: 3
drugs: 1
robbery: 1
theft-from-the-person: 1

Keyword Scorecard

Planning constraint analysis based on the last 24 months of applications in Barnsley Metropolitan 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 Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council based on the last 24 months of planning data.

Towns and villages in Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council area.

Monitoring Stations

4 flood monitoring stations near Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.

Norwood (Ea Beck)
Kirk Bramwith (River Don)
Doncaster (River Don)
Adwick le Street White Cross Bridge (Ea Beck)

A brief summary of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council serves as the local authority for the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England, delivering a wide range of essential local government services. As a member of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the council plays a key role in regional governance and planning, making it an important resource for anyone researching planning applications in the area. The council was established in 1 April 1974. The council is currently led by Stephen Houghton (Labour). The council comprises 63 councillors seats, with the most recent election held on 2 May 2024.

The Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council area recorded 129 crimes in the most recent reporting period. Prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council area includes 1 Ancient Woodland site. These designations may affect planning decisions, as proposals near protected sites require environmental impact assessment and may face additional restrictions.

The council area encompasses 514 towns and villages, including Adwick Le Street, Barnsley, Bentley, Bolton Upon Dearne, Conisbrough and Doncaster. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 250 planning applications Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council received. Of these, 57% were approved, with an average decision time of 90 days.

This is below the national average of approximately 87%, which may reflect stricter local policies, sensitivity of the area, or higher levels of speculative applications. Pre-application advice is particularly worthwhile in Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.

The average decision period of 90 days exceeds the 8-week target for minor applications but falls within the 13-week target for major schemes. Applicants should plan for approximately 13 weeks from submission to decision.

The most common application types in Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council were full planning applications (134), discharge of conditions (50), outline applications (23). Full planning applications account for 54% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 5 large-scale (major) developments, 98 medium-scale applications, 145 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

388 planning appeals were lodged against Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council decisions, of which 67 were allowed and 228 were dismissed (23% success rate). This low success rate indicates that the council's refusal decisions are generally upheld by the Planning Inspectorate.

Application Outcomes

Approved: 30 applications
Refused: 15 applications
Withdrawn: 8 applications
Awaiting decision: 197 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.