How many planning applications has Herefordshire Council received?

Herefordshire Council received 7,286 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 71%.

How long does Herefordshire Council take to decide planning applications?

Herefordshire Council takes an average of 64 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 Herefordshire Council?

Herefordshire Council approves 71% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I object to a planning application in Herefordshire Council?

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

Can I appeal a Herefordshire Council planning decision?

Yes. If Herefordshire Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 663 appeals were lodged against Herefordshire Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 27% success rate.

Herefordshire Council Planning Applications

Q: How do I search Herefordshire Council planning applications?

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

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

Region: West Midlands

About Herefordshire Council

Herefordshire Council serves as the unitary authority for Herefordshire, England, combining the functions of both district and county councils. Located in Hereford, the council has experienced no overall control since 2019 and is currently managed by a minority Conservative administration as of 2023. This governance structure is essential for those researching planning applications within the region, as it shapes local policies and decision-making processes.

Governance

Leader: Jonathan Lester (Conservative), since 19 May 2023

Chair: Roger Phillips (Conservative), since 19 May 2023

Chief Executive: Paul Walker, since May 2021

Seats: 53 councillors

Founded: 2019

Last election: 4 May 2023

Political composition: Conservative (20), True Independents (2), Independent (2), Liberal Democrat (12), Independents for Herefordshire (8), Green (8), Labour (1)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Herefordshire Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Herefordshire Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Herefordshire 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: £277,579 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Herefordshire, County of
Parliamentary constituency: North Herefordshire
LSOA: Herefordshire 006E

Crime Statistics

14 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 9
criminal-damage-arson: 2
other-theft: 2
public-order: 1

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Herefordshire Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Herefordshire Council area.

Monitoring Stations

8 flood monitoring stations near Herefordshire Council.

Lugwardine (River Lugg)
Three Elms (Yazor Brook)
Belmont (River Wye)
Old Wye Bridge (River Wye)
Yarkhill (River Frome (Wye))
Mordiford (River Wye)
Rainfall station
Rainfall station

A brief summary of Herefordshire Council

The average property sale price in the Herefordshire Council area is £277,579, based on 50 recent transactions.

There were 14 crimes reported in the Herefordshire Council area during the most recent period, a moderate level broadly in line with similar areas.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Herefordshire Council area includes 1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): River Wye SSSI; 1 Special Areas of Conservation (SAC): River Wye. These designations may affect planning decisions, as proposals near protected sites require environmental impact assessment and may face additional restrictions.

The council area encompasses 676 towns and villages, including Hereford, Kington, Ledbury, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Herefordshire Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 7,286 planning applications Herefordshire Council received. Of these, 71% were approved, with an average decision time of 64 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 Herefordshire Council.

At 64 days on average, decisions in Herefordshire Council slightly exceed the 8-week statutory target for minor applications, though this is common across many councils.

The most common application types in Herefordshire Council were full planning applications (636), tree works (436), outline applications (375). Full planning applications account for 9% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 27 large-scale (major) developments, 342 medium-scale applications, 1,640 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

663 planning appeals were lodged against Herefordshire Council decisions, of which 140 were allowed and 381 were dismissed (27% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 677 applications
Refused: 65 applications
Withdrawn: 208 applications
Awaiting decision: 3,319 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.