How many planning applications has Plymouth City Council received?

Plymouth City Council received 797 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 76%.

How long does Plymouth City Council take to decide planning applications?

Plymouth City Council takes an average of 51 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 Plymouth City Council?

Plymouth City Council approves 76% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I search Plymouth City Council planning applications?

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

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

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

Can I appeal a Plymouth City Council planning decision?

Yes. If Plymouth City Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 292 appeals were lodged against Plymouth City Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 23% success rate.

Plymouth City Council Planning Applications

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

Region: South West

About Plymouth City Council

Population: 267,918 (2016) · Area: 79.3 km²

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

Governance

Leader: Tudor Evans (Labour), since 19 May 2023

Chair: Kathy Watkin (Conservative), since 16 May 2025

Chief Executive: Tracey Lee, since October 2012

Seats: 57 councillors

Founded: 1 April 1974

Last election: 2 May 2024

Political composition: Labour (39), Conservative (7), Green (2), Liberal Democrats (1), Independent (8)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Plymouth City Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Plymouth City Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Plymouth 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: £306,442 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Teignbridge
Parliamentary constituency: Central Devon
LSOA: Teignbridge 017A

Crime Statistics

13 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 9
anti-social-behaviour: 1
burglary: 1
other-theft: 1
shoplifting: 1

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Plymouth City Council

1604 towns and villages. Click any town to search for planning applications nearby.

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Plymouth City Council area.

Monitoring Stations

8 flood monitoring stations near Plymouth City Council.

Bickington (River Lemon)
Holbeam Dam Downstream (River Lemon)
Austins Bridge (River Dart)
Bellever (East Dart River)
Holbeam Dam (River Lemon)
Bovey Parke (River Bovey)
Ashburton Lower (River Ashburn)
Ashburton Upper (River Ashburn)

A brief summary of Plymouth City Council

Plymouth City Council serves as the local authority for Plymouth, located in Devon, England. Established in 1439 and reformed multiple times, the council has operated as a unitary authority since 1998, combining the roles of both a district and county council. This structure allows it to independently manage planning applications and local governance without oversight from Devon County Council. The council was established in 1 April 1974. The council is currently led by Tudor Evans (Labour). The council comprises 57 councillors seats, with the most recent election held on 2 May 2024.

The average property sale price in the Plymouth City Council area is £306,442, based on 50 recent transactions.

There were 13 crimes reported in the Plymouth City Council area during the most recent period, a moderate level broadly in line with similar areas.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Plymouth City Council area includes 1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): Ashburton Road Cuttings SSSI; 4 Ancient Woodland sites; 1 National Parks: DARTMOOR. These designations may affect planning decisions, as proposals near protected sites require environmental impact assessment and may face additional restrictions.

The council area encompasses 1604 towns and villages, including Ashburton, Axminster, Barnstaple, Bideford, Buckfastleigh and Budleigh Salterton. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Plymouth City Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 797 planning applications Plymouth City Council received. Of these, 76% were approved, with an average decision time of 51 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 Plymouth City Council.

The average decision time of 51 days is within the government's 8-week statutory target for minor applications, indicating an efficient planning department.

The most common application types in Plymouth City Council were outline applications (157), tree works (128), discharge of conditions (108).

In terms of development scale, 8 large-scale (major) developments, 89 medium-scale applications, 453 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

292 planning appeals were lodged against Plymouth City Council decisions, of which 64 were allowed and 211 were dismissed (23% success rate). This low success rate indicates that the council's refusal decisions are generally upheld by the Planning Inspectorate.

Application Outcomes

Approved: 180 applications
Refused: 12 applications
Withdrawn: 46 applications
Awaiting decision: 559 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.