How many planning applications has Buckinghamshire Council received?

Buckinghamshire Council received 6,150 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 58%.

How long does Buckinghamshire Council take to decide planning applications?

Buckinghamshire Council takes an average of 54 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 Buckinghamshire Council?

Buckinghamshire Council approves 58% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I object to a planning application in Buckinghamshire Council?

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

Can I appeal a Buckinghamshire Council planning decision?

Yes. If Buckinghamshire Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 3196 appeals were lodged against Buckinghamshire Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 30% success rate.

Buckinghamshire Council Planning Applications

Q: How do I search Buckinghamshire Council planning applications?

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

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

Region: South East

About Buckinghamshire Council

Buckinghamshire Council serves as the local authority for the Buckinghamshire district in England, operating as a unitary authority that combines both county and district-level functions. Established on 1 April 2020, it replaced the former Buckinghamshire County Council and the councils of Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, South Bucks, and Wycombe. Covering roughly four-fifths of the area and housing about two-thirds of the population of the ceremonial county, Buckinghamshire Council plays a crucial role in managing planning applications and local development in the region.

Governance

Leader: Steve Broadbent (Conservative), since 21 May 2025

Chair: Sarfaraz Khan Raja (Conservative), since 21 May 2025

Chief Executive: Rachael Shimmin, since July 2019

Seats: 97

Founded: 1 April 2020

Last election: 1 May 2025

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Buckinghamshire Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Buckinghamshire Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Buckinghamshire 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: £752,595 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Buckinghamshire
Parliamentary constituency: Chesham and Amersham
LSOA: Buckinghamshire 032A

Crime Statistics

78 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 29
anti-social-behaviour: 14
public-order: 11
other-theft: 5
shoplifting: 5
criminal-damage-arson: 3
drugs: 3
burglary: 2
theft-from-the-person: 2
other-crime: 2
robbery: 1
vehicle-crime: 1

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Buckinghamshire Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Buckinghamshire Council area.

Monitoring Stations

9 flood monitoring stations near Buckinghamshire Council.

Hemel Hempstead, Old Fishery Lane (River Bulbourne)
Chesham (River Chess)
Hemel Hempstead, Bury Mill (River Gade)
Hemel Hempstead, Two Waters Road (River Bulbourne)
Missenden (River Misbourne)
High Wycombe FD
Walton PS
Ray Farm (Groundwater Level)
Rainfall station

A brief summary of Buckinghamshire Council

The average property sale price in the Buckinghamshire Council area is £752,595, based on 50 recent transactions.

The Buckinghamshire Council area recorded 78 crimes in the most recent reporting period. Prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.

Conservation Areas

There are 182 designated conservation areas within the Buckinghamshire 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: Dinton, Westlington, Upton and Gibraltar, Akeley, Halton, Haddenham, Aylesbury Town, Marsworth, Middle Claydon, Mursley, Nash, Newton Longville, and 172 more.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Buckinghamshire Council area includes 11 Ancient Woodland sites; 1 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): Chilterns. These designations may affect planning decisions, as proposals near protected sites require environmental impact assessment and may face additional restrictions.

The council area encompasses 563 towns and villages, including Amersham, Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, Buckingham, Chesham and Gerrards Cross. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Buckinghamshire Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 6,150 planning applications Buckinghamshire Council received. Of these, 58% were approved, with an average decision time of 54 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 Buckinghamshire Council.

The average decision time of 54 days is within the government's 8-week statutory target for minor applications, indicating an efficient planning department.

The most common application types in Buckinghamshire Council were full planning applications (1,724), discharge of conditions (1,174), tree works (929). Full planning applications account for 28% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 81 large-scale (major) developments, 346 medium-scale applications, 5,166 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

3,196 planning appeals were lodged against Buckinghamshire Council decisions, of which 840 were allowed and 1,916 were dismissed (30% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 396 applications
Refused: 267 applications
Withdrawn: 23 applications
Awaiting decision: 5,433 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.