How many planning applications has Forest of Dean District Council received?

Forest of Dean District Council received 1,027 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 89%.

How long does Forest of Dean District Council take to decide planning applications?

Forest of Dean District Council takes an average of 66 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 Forest of Dean District Council?

Forest of Dean District Council approves 89% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I object to a planning application in Forest of Dean District Council?

To object to a Forest of Dean District Council planning application, you must submit your representation to Forest of Dean District 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 Forest of Dean District Council planning portal where objections can be submitted.

Can I appeal a Forest of Dean District Council planning decision?

Yes. If Forest of Dean District Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 404 appeals were lodged against Forest of Dean District Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 33% success rate.

Forest of Dean District Council Planning Applications

Q: How do I search Forest of Dean District Council planning applications?

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

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

Region: South West

About Forest of Dean District Council

Forest of Dean District Council, located in west Gloucestershire, England, serves a diverse area named after the historic Forest of Dean. The council operates from its base in Coleford and oversees planning applications for various towns and villages within the district, including Cinderford, Lydney, and Newent, making it a key resource for anyone looking to navigate local development and planning regulations.

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Forest of Dean District Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Forest of Dean District Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Forest of Dean District 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: £434,214 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Cheltenham
Parliamentary constituency: Tewkesbury
LSOA: Cheltenham 001A

Crime Statistics

1 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 1

Keyword Scorecard

Planning constraint analysis based on the last 24 months of applications in Forest of Dean District 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 Forest of Dean District Council based on the last 24 months of planning data.

Towns and villages in Forest of Dean District Council

1041 towns and villages. Click any town to search for planning applications nearby.

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Forest of Dean District Council area.

Monitoring Stations

9 flood monitoring stations near Forest of Dean District Council.

Saintbridge (River Twyver)
Zoons Court Flood Storage (Horsbere Brook)
Witcombe (Horsbere Brook)
Armscroft Place (Wotton Brook)
Deerhurst (River Severn)
Moorend Road (Lilley Brook)
Abbeymead Avenue (River Twyver)
Merestones Road (Hatherley Brook)
Charlton Kings (River Chelt)

A brief summary of Forest of Dean District Council

The average property sale price in the Forest of Dean District Council area is £434,214, based on 50 recent transactions.

Neighbourhood safety in the Forest of Dean District Council area is generally good, with 1 crimes reported in the most recent period.

Conservation Areas

There are 27 designated conservation areas within the Forest of Dean District 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: Blakeney, Alvington, Awre, Aylburton, Blaisdon, Brockweir, Clearwell, Coleford, Dymock, English Bicknor, and 17 more.

The council area encompasses 1041 towns and villages, including Cheltenham, Chipping Sodbury, Cirencester, Fairford, Gloucester and Kingswood. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Forest of Dean District Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 1,027 planning applications Forest of Dean District Council received. Of these, 89% were approved, with an average decision time of 66 days.

This is slightly above the national average of approximately 87%, indicating a broadly favourable planning environment in Forest of Dean District Council.

At 66 days on average, decisions in Forest of Dean District Council slightly exceed the 8-week statutory target for minor applications, though this is common across many councils.

The most common application types in Forest of Dean District Council were full planning applications (418), tree works (126), discharge of conditions (116). 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, 8 large-scale (major) developments, 11 medium-scale applications, 825 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

404 planning appeals were lodged against Forest of Dean District Council decisions, of which 115 were allowed and 232 were dismissed (33% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 528 applications
Refused: 33 applications
Withdrawn: 29 applications
Awaiting decision: 437 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.