Moray Council Planning Applications

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

Region: Scotland

About Moray Council

Governance

Leader: Kathleen Robertson (Conservative), since 18 May 2022

Chief Executive: Karen Greaves, since 2025

Seats: 26 councillors

Last election: 5 May 2022

Political composition: Conservative (10), SNP (7), Labour (3), Green (2), Independent (4)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Moray Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Moray Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Moray 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

Area Information

Admin district: Moray
Parliamentary constituency: Aberdeenshire North and Moray East
LSOA: Buckie Central East - 05

Crime Statistics

0 crimes reported in 2026-03.

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Moray Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Moray Council area.

A brief summary of Moray Council

Moray Council serves as the local government authority for the Moray council area, one of Scotland's 32 regions. Headquartered in Elgin, the council oversees planning applications and local developments, making it a key resource for anyone researching building and renovation projects in the area. The council is currently led by Kathleen Robertson (Conservative). The council comprises 26 councillors seats, with the most recent election held on 5 May 2022.

There were no crimes reported in the Moray Council area during the most recent reporting period.

The council area encompasses 149 towns and villages, including Buckie, Burghead, Charlestown of Aberlour, Cullen, Dufftown and Elgin. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Moray Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 314 planning applications Moray Council received. Of these, 93% were approved, with an average decision time of 104 days.

This is notably above the national average of approximately 87%, suggesting a relatively permissive planning environment. Applicants in Moray Council may find that well-prepared applications have a strong chance of success.

With an average of 104 days, decisions in Moray Council take longer than the statutory targets. Applicants should budget for a 4-month timeline and consider pre-application discussions to avoid delays.

The most common application types in Moray Council were full planning applications (228), outline applications (47), listed building and heritage (22). Full planning applications account for 73% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 4 large-scale (major) developments, 16 medium-scale applications, 291 smaller schemes were submitted.

Application Outcomes

Approved: 135 applications
Refused: 2 applications
Withdrawn: 8 applications
Awaiting decision: 169 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.