How many planning applications has Hastings Borough Council received?

Hastings Borough Council received 382 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 81%.

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

Hastings Borough Council takes an average of 69 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 Hastings Borough Council?

Hastings Borough Council approves 81% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

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

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

Can I appeal a Hastings Borough Council planning decision?

Yes. If Hastings Borough Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 230 appeals were lodged against Hastings Borough Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 35% success rate.

Hastings Borough Council Planning Applications

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

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

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

Region: South East

About Hastings Borough Council

Hastings Borough Council serves as the local authority for Hastings, a historic town in East Sussex, England. With a council dating back to medieval times, Hastings has undergone various reforms and has held non-metropolitan district status with borough recognition since 1974. For those researching planning applications in the area, the council plays a crucial role in managing local development and community projects.

Governance

Leader: Glenn Haffenden (Green), since 14 May 2025

Chair: Becca Horn (Green), since 14 May 2025

Seats: 32 councillors (term: 4 years)

Founded: 1974

Last election: 2 May 2024

Political composition: Green (12), Labour (9), Your Party (6), Conservative (5)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Hastings Borough Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Hastings Borough Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Hastings 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: £441,783 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Rother
Parliamentary constituency: Bexhill and Battle
LSOA: Rother 006A

Crime Statistics

47 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

anti-social-behaviour: 13
violent-crime: 12
shoplifting: 9
other-crime: 4
criminal-damage-arson: 3
public-order: 3
drugs: 2
vehicle-crime: 1

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Hastings Borough Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Hastings Borough Council area.

Monitoring Stations

9 flood monitoring stations near Hastings Borough Council.

Sheepwash Bridge (Cuckmere & Pevensey Levels)
Udiam (River Rother)
Browns Bridge (Dudwell Tributary Rother)
Burwash (River Rother)
CROWHURST WEIR
ROBERTSBRIDGE RL
CROWHURST BRIDGE RL
BREDE GS
STONEHOUSE DRIVE RL

A brief summary of Hastings Borough Council

The average property sale price in the Hastings Borough Council area is £441,783, based on 50 recent transactions.

The Hastings Borough Council area recorded 47 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 Hastings 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: Hastings Town Centre, White Rock, Hastings, Cornwallis Gardens, Hastings, St Leonards North, Eversfield Place, St Leonards, Warrior Square, St Leonards, Magdalen Road, St Leonards, Tillington Terrace, Hastings, Old Town, Hastings, King's Road, St Leonards, and 8 more.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Hastings Borough Council area includes 20 Ancient Woodland sites; 1 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): High Weald. These designations may affect planning decisions, as proposals near protected sites require environmental impact assessment and may face additional restrictions.

The council area encompasses 478 towns and villages, including Battle, Bexhill, Brighton, Crowborough, Eastbourne and Hailsham. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Hastings Borough Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 382 planning applications Hastings Borough Council received. Of these, 81% were approved, with an average decision time of 69 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 Hastings Borough Council.

At 69 days on average, decisions in Hastings Borough Council slightly exceed the 8-week statutory target for minor applications, though this is common across many councils.

The most common application types in Hastings Borough Council were full planning applications (110), discharge of conditions (61), outline applications (35). Full planning applications account for 29% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 3 large-scale (major) developments, 2 medium-scale applications, 269 smaller schemes were submitted.

230 planning appeals were lodged against Hastings Borough Council decisions, of which 75 were allowed and 142 were dismissed (35% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 123 applications
Refused: 20 applications
Withdrawn: 9 applications
Awaiting decision: 230 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.