How many planning applications has Brighton and Hove City Council received?

Brighton and Hove City Council received 1,411 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 84%.

How long does Brighton and Hove City Council take to decide planning applications?

Brighton and Hove City Council takes an average of 76 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 Brighton and Hove City Council?

Brighton and Hove City Council approves 84% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I object to a planning application in Brighton and Hove City Council?

To object to a Brighton and Hove City Council planning application, you must submit your representation to Brighton and Hove 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 Brighton and Hove City Council planning portal where objections can be submitted.

Can I appeal a Brighton and Hove City Council planning decision?

Yes. If Brighton and Hove City Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 1652 appeals were lodged against Brighton and Hove City Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 34% success rate.

Brighton and Hove City Council Planning Applications

Q: How do I search Brighton and Hove City Council planning applications?

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

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

Region: South East

About Brighton and Hove City Council

Governance

Leader: Bella Sankey (Labour), since 25 May 2023

Chair: Amanda Grimshaw (Labour), since 22 May 2025

Chief Executive: Jess Gibbons, since 18 March 2024

Seats: 54 councillors (term: 4 years)

Founded: 1 April 1997

Last election: 4 May 2023

Political composition: Labour (34), Green (10), Conservative (5), Independent (3)

Council Planning Features

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

Average property sale price: £441,783 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Rother
Parliamentary constituency: Bexhill and Battle
LSOA: Rother 006B

Crime Statistics

47 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

anti-social-behaviour: 13
violent-crime: 12
shoplifting: 9
other-crime: 4
criminal-damage-arson: 3
public-order: 3
drugs: 2
vehicle-crime: 1

Keyword Scorecard

Planning constraint analysis based on the last 24 months of applications in Brighton and Hove 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 Brighton and Hove City Council based on the last 24 months of planning data.

Towns and villages in Brighton and Hove City Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Brighton and Hove City Council area.

Monitoring Stations

9 flood monitoring stations near Brighton and Hove City Council.

Sheepwash Bridge (Cuckmere & Pevensey Levels)
Udiam (River Rother)
Browns Bridge (Dudwell Tributary Rother)
Burwash (River Rother)
CROWHURST WEIR
ROBERTSBRIDGE RL
CROWHURST BRIDGE RL
BREDE GS
STONEHOUSE DRIVE RL

A brief summary of Brighton and Hove City Council

Brighton and Hove City Council serves as the local authority for Brighton and Hove, a city in East Sussex, England. As a unitary authority, it combines the roles of both a district and county council, streamlining local governance. Since 2023, the council has been under Labour majority control and operates from Hove Town Hall, making it a key player in the planning and development processes within the area. The council was established in 1 April 1997. The council is currently led by Bella Sankey (Labour). The council comprises 54 councillors seats, with the most recent election held on 4 May 2023.

The average property sale price in the Brighton and Hove City Council area is £441,783, based on 50 recent transactions.

The Brighton and Hove City Council area recorded 47 crimes in the most recent reporting period. Prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Brighton and Hove City Council area includes 20 Ancient Woodland sites; 1 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): High Weald. These designations may affect planning decisions, as proposals near protected sites require environmental impact assessment and may face additional restrictions.

The council area encompasses 478 towns and villages, including Battle, Bexhill, Brighton, Crowborough, Eastbourne and Hailsham. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Brighton and Hove City Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 1,411 planning applications Brighton and Hove City Council received. Of these, 84% were approved, with an average decision time of 76 days.

This is broadly in line with the national average of approximately 87%. Brighton and Hove City Council maintains a standard approach to planning decisions.

The average decision period of 76 days exceeds the 8-week target for minor applications but falls within the 13-week target for major schemes. Applicants should plan for approximately 11 weeks from submission to decision.

The most common application types in Brighton and Hove City Council were full planning applications (474), outline applications (222), tree works (146). Full planning applications account for 34% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 9 large-scale (major) developments, 8 medium-scale applications, 1,119 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

1,652 planning appeals were lodged against Brighton and Hove City Council decisions, of which 506 were allowed and 973 were dismissed (34% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 476 applications
Refused: 61 applications
Withdrawn: 27 applications
Awaiting decision: 843 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.