How many planning applications has Darlington Borough Council received?

Darlington Borough Council received 305 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 95%.

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

Darlington Borough Council takes an average of 35 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 Darlington Borough Council?

Darlington Borough Council approves 95% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

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

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

Can I appeal a Darlington Borough Council planning decision?

Yes. If Darlington Borough Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 115 appeals were lodged against Darlington Borough Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 24% success rate.

Darlington Borough Council Planning Applications

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

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

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

Region: North East

About Darlington Borough Council

Darlington Borough Council serves as a unitary authority in County Durham, England, and operates independently from Durham County Council. Established as a unitary authority in 1997, the council is headquartered in the town of Darlington, which is the borough's largest settlement. The borough encompasses both the urban area of Darlington, home to over 93,000 residents, and a surrounding rural region dotted with several villages, making it a diverse area for planning applications.

Population: 93,015 (2021) · Area: 19.7 km²

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

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Darlington Borough Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Darlington Borough Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Darlington 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: £118,905 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: County Durham
Parliamentary constituency: North Durham
LSOA: County Durham 004B

Crime Statistics

172 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 57
anti-social-behaviour: 29
criminal-damage-arson: 25
public-order: 14
other-theft: 11
shoplifting: 10
burglary: 7
vehicle-crime: 6
other-crime: 5
drugs: 4
possession-of-weapons: 3
robbery: 1

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Darlington Borough Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Darlington Borough Council area.

Monitoring Stations

8 flood monitoring stations near Darlington Borough Council.

Lanchester Front Street (Smallhope Burn)
Tanfield (River Team)
Blackhall Mill (River Derwent)
Rowlands Gill (River Derwent)
Team Valley (River Team)
Rainfall station
Rainfall station
Rainfall station

A brief summary of Darlington Borough Council

The average property sale price in the Darlington Borough Council area is £118,905, based on 50 recent transactions.

The Darlington Borough Council area recorded 172 crimes in the most recent reporting period. Prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.

Conservation Areas

There are 18 designated conservation areas within the Darlington 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: Darlington Town Centre, Heighington, Sadberge, Bishopton, Coatham Mundeville, Cockerton Village, Denton, Haughton-le-Skerne, High Coniscliffe, Hurworth, and 8 more.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Darlington Borough Council area includes 1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): Greencroft and Langley Moor SSSI; 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 500 towns and villages, including Annfield Plain, Barnard Castle, Billingham, Bishop Auckland, Brandon and Chester-Le-Street. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Darlington Borough Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 305 planning applications Darlington Borough Council received. Of these, 95% were approved, with an average decision time of 35 days.

This is notably above the national average of approximately 87%, suggesting a relatively permissive planning environment. Applicants in Darlington Borough Council may find that well-prepared applications have a strong chance of success.

The average decision time of 35 days is within the government's 8-week statutory target for minor applications, indicating an efficient planning department.

The most common application types in Darlington Borough Council were tree works (65), telecoms (63), outline applications (47). The significant number of tree-related applications is typical for areas with mature tree cover or active tree preservation orders.

In terms of development scale, 20 large-scale (major) developments, 3 medium-scale applications, 261 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

115 planning appeals were lodged against Darlington Borough Council decisions, of which 25 were allowed and 81 were dismissed (24% success rate). This low success rate indicates that the council's refusal decisions are generally upheld by the Planning Inspectorate.

Application Outcomes

Approved: 147 applications
Refused: 5 applications
Withdrawn: 2 applications
Awaiting decision: 151 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.