How many planning applications has Burnley Borough Council received?

Burnley Borough Council received 281 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 60%.

How long does Burnley Borough Council take to decide planning applications?

Burnley Borough Council takes an average of 61 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 Burnley Borough Council?

Burnley Borough Council approves 60% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

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

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

Can I appeal a Burnley Borough Council planning decision?

Yes. If Burnley Borough Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 119 appeals were lodged against Burnley Borough Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 31% success rate.

Burnley Borough Council Planning Applications

Q: How do I search Burnley Borough Council planning applications?

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

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

Region: North West

About Burnley Borough Council

Population: 82,002 (2016) · Area: 15.8 km²

Website: http://www.burnley.gov.uk/

Governance

Leader: Afrasiab Anwar (Independent), since 19 May 2021

Chair: Paul Reynolds (Labour), since 14 May 2025

Chief Executive: Lukman Patel, since July 2023

Seats: 45 councillors (term: | voting_system1 = First past the post)

Founded: 1 April 1974

Last election: 2 May 2024

Political composition: Burnley Independent Group (11), Liberal Democrats (7), Green (5), Labour (13), Conservative (7), Reform UK (2)

Council Planning Features

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

Average property sale price: £145,664 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Rossendale
Parliamentary constituency: Hyndburn
LSOA: Rossendale 002D

Crime Statistics

513 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 197
anti-social-behaviour: 70
public-order: 49
criminal-damage-arson: 39
shoplifting: 39
vehicle-crime: 35
other-theft: 32
burglary: 14
drugs: 11
possession-of-weapons: 9
other-crime: 9
robbery: 5
bicycle-theft: 2
theft-from-the-person: 2

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Burnley Borough Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Burnley Borough Council area.

Monitoring Stations

9 flood monitoring stations near Burnley Borough Council.

Lomeshaye (Pendle Water)
Oxford Road (River Calder)
New Jumbles Rock (River Ribble)
Barden Lane (Pendle Water)
Thompson Park (River Brun)
Hardman Way (River Darwen)
Dryden Street (Shaw Brook Tributary)
Rawtenstall (Limey Water)
Harrison Street (River Blakewater)

A brief summary of Burnley Borough Council

Burnley Borough Council delivers essential district-level services for the Burnley area in Lancashire, North West England, while Lancashire County Council oversees county-level services. The borough is also enhanced by several civil parishes, introducing an additional layer of local governance. This structure is key for those researching planning applications, as it highlights the different authorities involved in local development matters. The council was established in 1 April 1974. The council is currently led by Afrasiab Anwar (Independent). The council comprises 45 councillors seats, with the most recent election held on 2 May 2024.

The average property sale price in the Burnley Borough Council area is £145,664, based on 50 recent transactions.

The Burnley Borough Council area recorded 513 crimes in the most recent reporting period. Prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.

Conservation Areas

There are 10 designated conservation areas within the Burnley Borough 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: Jib Hill, Harle Syke, Padiham, Burnley Wood, Top o' th' Town, Burnley Town Centre, Palatine, Canalside, Hurstwood, Worsthorne.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Burnley 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 744 towns and villages, including Accrington, Adlington, Bacup, Bamber Bridge, Barnoldswick and Barrowford. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Burnley Borough Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 281 planning applications Burnley Borough Council received. Of these, 60% were approved, with an average decision time of 61 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 Burnley Borough Council.

At 61 days on average, decisions in Burnley Borough Council slightly exceed the 8-week statutory target for minor applications, though this is common across many councils.

The most common application types in Burnley Borough Council were full planning applications (116), discharge of conditions (53), outline applications (52). Full planning applications account for 41% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 2 large-scale (major) developments, 36 medium-scale applications, 243 smaller schemes were submitted.

119 planning appeals were lodged against Burnley Borough Council decisions, of which 33 were allowed and 75 were dismissed (31% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 43 applications
Refused: 23 applications
Withdrawn: 6 applications
Awaiting decision: 209 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.