How many planning applications has Hertsmere Borough Council received?

Hertsmere Borough Council received 833 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 80%.

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

Hertsmere Borough Council takes an average of 63 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 Hertsmere Borough Council?

Hertsmere Borough Council approves 80% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

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

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

Can I appeal a Hertsmere Borough Council planning decision?

Yes. If Hertsmere Borough Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 525 appeals were lodged against Hertsmere Borough Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 38% success rate.

Hertsmere Borough Council Planning Applications

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

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

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

Region: East of England

About Hertsmere Borough Council

Hertsmere Borough Council, located in Borehamwood, governs a vibrant local district in Hertfordshire, England, encompassing key settlements such as Bushey, Elstree, Radlett, and Potters Bar. Notably, the area is home to several prominent film studios, including Elstree Studios and the BBC Elstree Centre. Hertsmere is bordered by Three Rivers, Watford, St Albans, and Welwyn Hatfield, as well as the north London boroughs of Harrow, Barnet, and Enfield, making it an accessible location within the M25 Motorway.

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Hertsmere Borough Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Hertsmere Borough Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Hertsmere 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: £378,791 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: North Hertfordshire
Parliamentary constituency: North East Hertfordshire
LSOA: North Hertfordshire 016B

Crime Statistics

95 crimes reported in 2026-04.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 26
vehicle-crime: 15
anti-social-behaviour: 14
criminal-damage-arson: 11
burglary: 7
other-theft: 7
shoplifting: 6
drugs: 3
public-order: 2
robbery: 2
bicycle-theft: 1
other-crime: 1

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Hertsmere Borough Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Hertsmere Borough Council area.

Monitoring Stations

7 flood monitoring stations near Hertsmere Borough Council.

Arlesey (River Hiz)
Walkern (River Beane)
HITCHIN GS
ARLESEY GS
Rainfall station
Rainfall station
Rainfall station

A brief summary of Hertsmere Borough Council

The average property sale price in the Hertsmere Borough Council area is £378,791, based on 50 recent transactions.

The Hertsmere Borough Council area recorded 95 crimes in the most recent reporting period. Prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.

Conservation Areas

There are 17 designated conservation areas within the Hertsmere 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: Aldenham, Round Bush, Bushey Heath High Road, Letchmore Heath, Potters Bar The Royds, Patchetts Green and Delrow, Bushey Heath The Lake, Bushey High Street, Potters Bar Darkes Lane (West), Elstree Village, and 7 more.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Hertsmere 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 544 towns and villages, including Baldock, Berkhamsted, Bishop's Stortford, Borehamwood, Bushey and Cheshunt. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Hertsmere Borough Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 833 planning applications Hertsmere Borough Council received. Of these, 80% were approved, with an average decision time of 63 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 Hertsmere Borough Council.

At 63 days on average, decisions in Hertsmere 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 Hertsmere Borough Council were full planning applications (265), outline applications (181), discharge of conditions (130). Full planning applications account for 32% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 11 large-scale (major) developments, 153 medium-scale applications, 557 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

525 planning appeals were lodged against Hertsmere Borough Council decisions, of which 177 were allowed and 291 were dismissed (38% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 294 applications
Refused: 48 applications
Withdrawn: 25 applications
Awaiting decision: 466 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.