How many planning applications has Portsmouth City Council received?

Portsmouth City Council received 675 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 67%.

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

Portsmouth City Council takes an average of 77 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 Portsmouth City Council?

Portsmouth City Council approves 67% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

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

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

Can I appeal a Portsmouth City Council planning decision?

Yes. If Portsmouth City Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 431 appeals were lodged against Portsmouth City Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 40% success rate.

Portsmouth City Council Planning Applications

Q: How do I search Portsmouth City Council planning applications?

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

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

Region: South East

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council serves as the local authority for Portsmouth, located in Hampshire, England. With a history dating back to medieval times, the council has undergone various reforms and has operated as a unitary authority since 1997, combining the roles of both district and county council. This structure enables Portsmouth City Council to independently manage local planning applications and services without the oversight of Hampshire County Council.

Population: 248,440 (2016) · Area: 40.3 km²

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

Governance

Leader: Steve Pitt (Liberal Democrat), since 16 May 2023

Chair: Gerald Vernon-Jackson (Liberal Democrat), since 13 May 2025

Chief Executive: Natalie Brahma-Pearl, since 2023

Seats: 42 councillors (term: 4 years)

Founded: 1997

Last election: 2 May 2024

Political composition: Liberal Democrats (18), Labour (9), Reform UK (8), Conservative (4), PIP (2), Independent (1)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Portsmouth City Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Portsmouth City Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Portsmouth 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: £360,868 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Rushmoor
Parliamentary constituency: Aldershot
LSOA: Rushmoor 008D

Crime Statistics

269 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 112
anti-social-behaviour: 41
shoplifting: 32
public-order: 29
other-theft: 12
vehicle-crime: 12
criminal-damage-arson: 9
other-crime: 6
drugs: 5
burglary: 4
possession-of-weapons: 4
robbery: 3

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Portsmouth City Council

1042 towns and villages. Click any town to search for planning applications nearby.

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Portsmouth City Council area.

Monitoring Stations

6 flood monitoring stations near Portsmouth City Council.

Crookham Village (River Hart)
Farnham (River Wey)
Redlands Lane (River Hart)
Tongham (River Blackwater)
Blackwater Bridge (River Blackwater)
Farnborough (River Blackwater)

A brief summary of Portsmouth City Council

The average property sale price in the Portsmouth City Council area is £360,868, based on 50 recent transactions.

The Portsmouth City Council area recorded 269 crimes in the most recent reporting period. Prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Portsmouth City Council area includes 1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): Basingstoke Canal SSSI; 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 1042 towns and villages, including Aldershot, Alton, Andover, Basingstoke, Bordon and Eastleigh. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Portsmouth City Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 675 planning applications Portsmouth City Council received. Of these, 67% were approved, with an average decision time of 77 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 Portsmouth City Council.

The average decision period of 77 days exceeds the 8-week target for minor applications but falls within the 13-week target for major schemes. Applicants should plan for approximately 11 weeks from submission to decision.

The most common application types in Portsmouth City Council were full planning applications (188), discharge of conditions (118), amendments (100). Full planning applications account for 28% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 5 large-scale (major) developments, 15 medium-scale applications, 624 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

431 planning appeals were lodged against Portsmouth City Council decisions, of which 156 were allowed and 232 were dismissed (40% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 149 applications
Refused: 55 applications
Withdrawn: 19 applications
Awaiting decision: 452 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.