How many planning applications has Northumberland County Council received?

Northumberland County Council received 1,870 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 86%.

How long does Northumberland County Council take to decide planning applications?

Northumberland County Council takes an average of 122 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 Northumberland County Council?

Northumberland County Council approves 86% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I object to a planning application in Northumberland County Council?

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

Can I appeal a Northumberland County Council planning decision?

Yes. If Northumberland County Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 753 appeals were lodged against Northumberland County Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 24% success rate.

Northumberland County Council Planning Applications

Q: How do I search Northumberland County Council planning applications?

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

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

Region: North East

About Northumberland County Council

Population: 324,362 (2022) · Area: 5013.8 km²

Website: https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/

Governance

Leader: Glen Sanderson (Conservative), since 23 September 2020

Chair: John Beynon (Conservative), since 1 May 2024

Chief Executive: Helen Paterson, since 6 February 2023

Seats: 69 councillors

Founded: 1 April 1889

Last election: 1 May 2025

Political composition: Conservative (27), Reform (20), Labour (8), Liberal Democrats (3), Green (2), Independent (9)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Northumberland County Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Northumberland County Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Northumberland County 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: £333,891 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Northumberland
Parliamentary constituency: North Northumberland
LSOA: Northumberland 006F

Crime Statistics

94 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 34
anti-social-behaviour: 15
criminal-damage-arson: 11
shoplifting: 10
public-order: 9
other-crime: 5
vehicle-crime: 4
other-theft: 3
burglary: 1
drugs: 1
possession-of-weapons: 1

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Northumberland County Council

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

A brief summary of Northumberland County Council

Northumberland County Council serves as the local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Northumberland in North East England. Established as a unitary authority in 2009, it consolidated district-level functions following the abolition of the county's districts, streamlining planning processes and services for residents and developers alike. The council was established in 1 April 1889. The council is currently led by Glen Sanderson (Conservative). The council comprises 69 councillors seats, with the most recent election held on 1 May 2025.

The average property sale price in the Northumberland County Council area is £333,891, based on 50 recent transactions.

The Northumberland County Council area recorded 94 crimes in the most recent reporting period. Prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.

Conservation Areas

There are 70 designated conservation areas within the Northumberland County 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: Blyth Central, Blyth Bondicar Terrace, Holywell, Cramlington Village, Belsay, Cambo, Middleton, Capheaton, Longhirst, Matfen, and 60 more.

The council area encompasses 477 towns and villages, including Alnwick, Amble, Ashington, Bedlington, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Blyth. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Northumberland County Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 1,870 planning applications Northumberland County Council received. Of these, 86% were approved, with an average decision time of 122 days.

This is broadly in line with the national average of approximately 87%. Northumberland County Council maintains a standard approach to planning decisions.

With an average of 122 days, decisions in Northumberland County Council take longer than the statutory targets. Applicants should budget for a 5-month timeline and consider pre-application discussions to avoid delays.

The most common application types in Northumberland County Council were discharge of conditions (542), full planning applications (281), tree works (242).

In terms of development scale, 3 large-scale (major) developments, 56 medium-scale applications, 1,811 smaller schemes were submitted.

753 planning appeals were lodged against Northumberland County Council decisions, of which 154 were allowed and 500 were dismissed (24% success rate). This low success rate indicates that the council's refusal decisions are generally upheld by the Planning Inspectorate.

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.