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Unlock the full intelligence for Essex County Council

Approval trends over time, decision speed by application type, flood and conservation context, population and local data: all free with an account.

House prices in Essex County Council: average £359,978, -0.3% over 12 months (UK House Price Index, July 2026)

Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Frequently asked questions

How many planning applications has Essex County Council received?
Essex County Council received 266 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 96%.
How long does Essex County Council take to decide applications?
Essex County Council takes an average of 47 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 Essex County Council?
Essex County Council approves 96% of planning applications, against 87% nationally.
How do I object to a planning application in Essex County Council?
Submit your representation to Essex County Council during the public consultation period, typically 21 days from when the application was publicised. Planning Signal shows the consultation deadline for each application and links directly to the Essex County Council planning portal.
Can I appeal an Essex County Council planning decision?
Yes. If Essex County Council refuses your application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 94 appeals were lodged against Essex County Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 50% success rate.

Planning data sourced from Essex County Council planning portal · Statistics based on the last 24 months

About Essex County Council Planning Authority

Track every planning application and planning permission decision in the Essex County Council area. View live status, browse proposals by postcode, and get free email alerts for new developments. Updated daily from the council planning portal.

Essex County Council oversees the non-metropolitan county of Essex, excluding the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock. Comprising 75 councillors elected from 70 divisions, the council has maintained a Conservative majority since 2001. Meetings are held at County Hall in Chelmsford, making it a central hub for planning applications and local governance in the region. The council is currently led by Kevin Bentley (Conservative), who has held the position since 25 May 2021. Nicole Wood serves as Chief Executive since 14 February 2025.

The council area encompasses 963 towns and villages, including Basildon, Billericay, Braintree, Brentwood, Brightlingsea and Burnham-On-Crouch. Use the planning application search above to find proposals across these communities by postcode.

In the last 24 months, Essex County Council received 266 planning applications. Of these, 96% were approved, with an average decision time of 47 days.

The most common types were discharge of conditions (137), full planning applications (23), amendments (19).

94 planning appeals were lodged against Essex County Council decisions, of which 7 were allowed and 7 were dismissed (50% success rate).

Residents and developers can search all planning permission and permitted development applications for Essex County Council above. To comment or object to a live application, visit the Essex County Council planning portal directly. Planning Signal links to the original submission for every application listed.