How many planning applications has Bury Metropolitan Borough Council received?

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council received 919 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 61%.

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

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council takes an average of 63 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 Bury Metropolitan Borough Council?

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council approves 61% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

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

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

Can I appeal a Bury Metropolitan Borough Council planning decision?

Yes. If Bury Metropolitan Borough Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 2345 appeals were lodged against Bury Metropolitan Borough Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 29% success rate.

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council Planning Applications

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

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

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

Region: North West

About Bury Metropolitan Borough Council

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council, commonly referred to as Bury Council, serves as the local authority for the Metropolitan Borough of Bury in Greater Manchester. This metropolitan borough council is responsible for delivering a wide range of local government services and has been a member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority since 2011, making it integral to regional governance and planning initiatives. For those researching planning applications in the area, Bury Council is a key resource for local regulations and development opportunities.

Governance

Leader: Eamonn O'Brien (Labour), since 20 May 2020

Chair: Noel Bayley (Labour), since 21 May 2025

Chief Executive: Lynne Ridsdale, since 1 March 2023

Seats: 51 councillors

Founded: 1 April 1974

Last election: 2 May 2024

Political composition: Labour (32), Conservative (5), Reform UK (1), Independent (1)

Council Planning Features

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

Average property sale price: £216,293 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Wigan
Parliamentary constituency: Makerfield
LSOA: Wigan 013E

Crime Statistics

0 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Bury Metropolitan Borough Council

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

Flood Risk

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

Monitoring Stations

7 flood monitoring stations near Bury Metropolitan Borough Council.

Wigan (River Douglas)
Red Rock (River Douglas)
Appley Bridge (River Douglas)
Little Woolden Hall (Glaze Brook)
Causey Bridge (Sankey Brook)
Penleach
Lilford Park, Leigh (Atherton Lake Brook)

A brief summary of Bury Metropolitan Borough Council

The average property sale price in the Bury Metropolitan Borough Council area is £216,293, based on 50 recent transactions.

There were no crimes reported in the Bury Metropolitan Borough Council area during the most recent reporting period.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Bury Metropolitan Borough Council area includes 2 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): Bryn Marsh & Ince Moss SSSI, Abram Flashes SSSI. These designations may affect planning decisions, as proposals near protected sites require environmental impact assessment and may face additional restrictions.

The council area encompasses 656 towns and villages, including Abram, Altrincham, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Atherton and Bolton. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Bury Metropolitan Borough Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 919 planning applications Bury Metropolitan Borough Council received. Of these, 61% were approved, with an average decision time of 63 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 Bury Metropolitan Borough Council.

At 63 days on average, decisions in Bury Metropolitan 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 Bury Metropolitan Borough Council were full planning applications (438), outline applications (123), discharge of conditions (96). Full planning applications account for 48% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 10 large-scale (major) developments, 14 medium-scale applications, 714 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

2,345 planning appeals were lodged against Bury Metropolitan Borough Council decisions, of which 604 were allowed and 1,459 were dismissed (29% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 140 applications
Refused: 66 applications
Withdrawn: 24 applications
Awaiting decision: 686 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.