How many planning applications has Guildford Borough Council received?

Guildford Borough Council received 2,230 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 82%.

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

Guildford Borough Council takes an average of 81 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 Guildford Borough Council?

Guildford Borough Council approves 82% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

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

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

Can I appeal a Guildford Borough Council planning decision?

Yes. If Guildford Borough Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 1195 appeals were lodged against Guildford Borough Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 33% success rate.

Guildford Borough Council Planning Applications

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

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

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

Region: South East

About Guildford Borough Council

Guildford Borough Council oversees a local government district in Surrey, England, recognized for its borough status. The largest settlement and sole town within the borough, Guildford is home to approximately half of the area's population and serves as the council's administrative hub. This makes it a key location for anyone researching planning applications in the region.

Population: 77,057 (2011)

Website: https://www.guildford.gov.uk/

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Guildford Borough Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Guildford Borough Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Guildford 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: £443,141 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Runnymede
Parliamentary constituency: Runnymede and Weybridge
LSOA: Runnymede 007B

Crime Statistics

161 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 53
anti-social-behaviour: 40
shoplifting: 14
public-order: 13
other-theft: 12
criminal-damage-arson: 8
possession-of-weapons: 6
other-crime: 6
burglary: 3
vehicle-crime: 3
bicycle-theft: 2
drugs: 1

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Guildford Borough Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Guildford Borough Council area.

Monitoring Stations

6 flood monitoring stations near Guildford Borough Council.

Pound Mill, Staines (Wraysbury River)
Chertsey Lock (River Thames)
Chertsey Bourne
Old Woking (River Wey)
Guildford Street (Chertsey Bourne)
Millbourne Bridge (Mill Bourne)

A brief summary of Guildford Borough Council

The average property sale price in the Guildford Borough Council area is £443,141, based on 50 recent transactions.

The Guildford Borough Council area recorded 161 crimes in the most recent reporting period. Prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.

Conservation Areas

There are 39 designated conservation areas within the Guildford 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: Holmbury St Mary, Abinger Hammer, Peaslake, Shere, Albury, Chilworth Gunpowder Mills, Effingham, East Horsley, West Horsley, East Clandon, and 29 more.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Guildford Borough Council area includes 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 479 towns and villages, including Addlestone, Ashford, Banstead, Camberley, Caterham and Chertsey. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Guildford Borough Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 2,230 planning applications Guildford Borough Council received. Of these, 82% were approved, with an average decision time of 81 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 Guildford Borough Council.

The average decision period of 81 days exceeds the 8-week target for minor applications but falls within the 13-week target for major schemes. Applicants should plan for approximately 12 weeks from submission to decision.

The most common application types in Guildford Borough Council were full planning applications (801), discharge of conditions (420), tree works (227). Full planning applications account for 36% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 20 large-scale (major) developments, 301 medium-scale applications, 1,579 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

1,195 planning appeals were lodged against Guildford Borough Council decisions, of which 363 were allowed and 723 were dismissed (33% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 783 applications
Refused: 139 applications
Withdrawn: 33 applications
Awaiting decision: 1,273 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.