Exeter City Council Planning Applications

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

Region: South West

About Exeter City Council

Exeter City Council serves as the local authority for Exeter, a historic city in Devon, England. With roots dating back to medieval times, the council has evolved through several reforms and has functioned as a non-metropolitan district council since 1974. Under Labour majority control since 2010, the council convenes at the Exeter Guildhall, with its primary offices located at the Civic Centre on Paris Street, making it a key institution for those interested in planning applications in the area.

Population: 124,180 (2016) · Area: 27.3 km²

Website: https://exeter.gov.uk

Governance

Leader: Philip Bialyk (Labour), since 14 May 2019

Chair: Anne Jobson (Conservative), since 13 May 2025

Chief Executive: Bindu Arjoon, since March 2023

Founded: 1 April 1974

Last election: 2 May 2024

Political composition: Labour (22), Green (7), Liberal Democrats (4), Conservative (2), Reform UK (2), Independent (2)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Exeter City Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Exeter City Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Exeter City 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: £330,424 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Teignbridge
Parliamentary constituency: Central Devon
LSOA: Teignbridge 004C

Crime Statistics

15 crimes reported in 2026-03.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 12
other-crime: 2
other-theft: 1

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Exeter City Council

1604 towns and villages. Click any town to search for planning applications nearby.

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Exeter City Council area.

Monitoring Stations

10 flood monitoring stations near Exeter City Council.

Bickington (River Lemon)
Holbeam Dam Downstream (River Lemon)
Austins Bridge (River Dart)
Bellever (East Dart River)
Holbeam Dam (River Lemon)
Bovey Parke (River Bovey)
Ashburton Lower (River Ashburn)
Ashburton Upper (River Ashburn)
Didworthy (River Avon)
BOVEY PARKE

A brief summary of Exeter City Council

The average property sale price in the Exeter City Council area is £330,424, based on 50 recent transactions.

There were 15 crimes reported in the Exeter City Council area during the most recent period, a moderate level broadly in line with similar areas.

Conservation Areas

There are 20 designated conservation areas within the Exeter City 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: Midway Terrace and Ide Lane, Pennsylvania, Topsham, Alphington, Alphinbrook, Cowick Street, Princes Square, Exwick, Taddyforde, Heavitree, and 10 more.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Exeter City Council area includes 1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): Ashburton Road Cuttings SSSI; 4 Ancient Woodland sites; 1 National Parks: DARTMOOR. These designations may affect planning decisions, as proposals near protected sites require environmental impact assessment and may face additional restrictions.

The council area encompasses 1604 towns and villages, including Ashburton, Axminster, Barnstaple, Bideford, Buckfastleigh and Budleigh Salterton. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Exeter City Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 553 planning applications Exeter City Council received. Of these, 87% were approved, with an average decision time of 51 days.

This is broadly in line with the national average of approximately 87%. Exeter City Council maintains a standard approach to planning decisions.

The average decision time of 51 days is within the government's 8-week statutory target for minor applications, indicating an efficient planning department.

The most common application types in Exeter City Council were tree works (131), full planning applications (113), discharge of conditions (102). 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, 11 large-scale (major) developments, 2 medium-scale applications, 540 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

298 planning appeals were lodged against Exeter City Council decisions, of which 79 were allowed and 193 were dismissed (29% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 283 applications
Refused: 34 applications
Withdrawn: 10 applications
Awaiting decision: 226 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.