How many planning applications has Milton Keynes City Council received?

Milton Keynes City Council received 1,201 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 66%.

How long does Milton Keynes City Council take to decide planning applications?

Milton Keynes City Council takes an average of 67 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 Milton Keynes City Council?

Milton Keynes City Council approves 66% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I object to a planning application in Milton Keynes City Council?

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

Can I appeal a Milton Keynes City Council planning decision?

Yes. If Milton Keynes City Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 499 appeals were lodged against Milton Keynes City Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 33% success rate.

Milton Keynes City Council Planning Applications

Q: How do I search Milton Keynes City Council planning applications?

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

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

Region: South East

About Milton Keynes City Council

Milton Keynes City Council serves as the local authority for the City of Milton Keynes, located in Buckinghamshire, England. Established in 1974 as Milton Keynes Borough Council, it became a unitary authority in 1997, combining the roles of both district and county councils. This means it operates independently from Buckinghamshire Council, which oversees the remainder of the county, making it a key player in local planning applications and development initiatives.

Governance

Leader: Peter Marland (Labour), since 11 June 2014

Chair: James Lancaster (Labour), since 14 May 2025

Chief Executive: Michael Bracey, since 26 October 2018

Seats: 57 councillors

Founded: 1 April 1974

Last election: 2 May 2024

Political composition: Labour (30), Liberal Democrats (18), Conservative (9)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Milton Keynes City Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Milton Keynes City Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Milton Keynes City 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: £752,595 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Buckinghamshire
Parliamentary constituency: Chesham and Amersham
LSOA: Buckinghamshire 035D

Crime Statistics

78 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 29
anti-social-behaviour: 14
public-order: 11
other-theft: 5
shoplifting: 5
criminal-damage-arson: 3
drugs: 3
burglary: 2
theft-from-the-person: 2
other-crime: 2
robbery: 1
vehicle-crime: 1

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Milton Keynes City Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Milton Keynes City Council area.

Monitoring Stations

9 flood monitoring stations near Milton Keynes City Council.

Hemel Hempstead, Old Fishery Lane (River Bulbourne)
Chesham (River Chess)
Hemel Hempstead, Bury Mill (River Gade)
Hemel Hempstead, Two Waters Road (River Bulbourne)
Missenden (River Misbourne)
High Wycombe FD
Walton PS
Ray Farm (Groundwater Level)
Rainfall station

A brief summary of Milton Keynes City Council

The average property sale price in the Milton Keynes City Council area is £752,595, based on 50 recent transactions.

The Milton Keynes City Council area recorded 78 crimes in the most recent reporting period. Prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.

Conservation Areas

There are 27 designated conservation areas within the Milton Keynes City 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: Wolverton, Great Linford, Wroughton on the Green, Willen, Loughton, Stony Stratford, Shenley Church End, Old Bradwell, Milton Keynes Village, Broughton, and 17 more.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Milton Keynes City Council area includes 11 Ancient Woodland sites; 1 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): Chilterns. These designations may affect planning decisions, as proposals near protected sites require environmental impact assessment and may face additional restrictions.

The council area encompasses 563 towns and villages, including Amersham, Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, Buckingham, Chesham and Gerrards Cross. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Milton Keynes City Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 1,201 planning applications Milton Keynes City Council received. Of these, 66% were approved, with an average decision time of 67 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 Milton Keynes City Council.

At 67 days on average, decisions in Milton Keynes City Council slightly exceed the 8-week statutory target for minor applications, though this is common across many councils.

The most common application types in Milton Keynes City Council were full planning applications (483), discharge of conditions (231), outline applications (216). Full planning applications account for 40% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 28 large-scale (major) developments, 155 medium-scale applications, 1,018 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

499 planning appeals were lodged against Milton Keynes City Council decisions, of which 145 were allowed and 301 were dismissed (33% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 265 applications
Refused: 107 applications
Withdrawn: 28 applications
Awaiting decision: 801 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.