How many planning applications has Reading Borough Council received?

Reading Borough Council received 800 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 65%.

How long does Reading Borough Council take to decide planning applications?

Reading Borough Council takes an average of 64 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 Reading Borough Council?

Reading Borough Council approves 65% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I object to a planning application in Reading Borough Council?

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

Can I appeal a Reading Borough Council planning decision?

Yes. If Reading Borough Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 367 appeals were lodged against Reading Borough Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 26% success rate.

Reading Borough Council Planning Applications

Q: How do I search Reading Borough Council planning applications?

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

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

Region: South East

About Reading Borough Council

Population: 162,666 (2016) · Area: 40.4 km²

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

Governance

Leader: Liz Terry (Labour), since 22 May 2024

Chair: Alice Mpofu-Coles (Labour), since 21 May 2025

Chief Executive: Jackie Yates, since October 2022

Seats: 48 councillors (term: 4 years)

Founded: | preceded_by =

Last election: 2 May 2024

Political composition: Labour (32), Green Party (8), Conservative (4), Liberal Democrats (3), Independent (1)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Reading Borough Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Reading Borough Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Reading Borough 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: £465,232 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Bracknell Forest
Parliamentary constituency: Maidenhead
LSOA: Bracknell Forest 002B

Crime Statistics

311 crimes reported in 2026-04.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 108
anti-social-behaviour: 39
other-theft: 31
shoplifting: 31
public-order: 25
criminal-damage-arson: 22
vehicle-crime: 17
drugs: 16
burglary: 7
bicycle-theft: 5
other-crime: 5
robbery: 2
theft-from-the-person: 2
possession-of-weapons: 1

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Reading Borough Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Reading Borough Council area.

Monitoring Stations

5 flood monitoring stations near Reading Borough Council.

Twyford (River Loddon)
Wokingham (Emm Brook)
Binfield (The Cut)
Bagshot (Windle Brook)
Blackwater Bridge (River Blackwater)

A brief summary of Reading Borough Council

Reading Borough Council serves as the local authority for Reading in Berkshire, England, with a history dating back to at least 1542. Having undergone several reforms over the centuries, the council has functioned as a unitary authority since 1998, combining the roles of both district and county council. This structure is essential for those researching planning applications in the area, as it centralizes decision-making and services. The council was established in | preceded_by =. The council is currently led by Liz Terry (Labour). The council comprises 48 councillors seats, with the most recent election held on 2 May 2024.

The average property sale price in the Reading Borough Council area is £465,232, based on 50 recent transactions.

The Reading Borough Council area recorded 311 crimes in the most recent reporting period. Prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.

Conservation Areas

There are 15 designated conservation areas within the Reading Borough 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: Horncastle, Routh Lane, South Park, Eldon Square, Redlands, The Mount, Christchurch, Surley Row, St Peter's, Market Place and London Street, and 5 more.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Reading Borough Council area includes 10 Ancient Woodland sites. These designations may affect planning decisions, as proposals near protected sites require environmental impact assessment and may face additional restrictions.

The council area encompasses 385 towns and villages, including Bracknell, Eton, Maidenhead, Newbury, Reading and Slough. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Reading Borough Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 800 planning applications Reading Borough Council received. Of these, 65% were approved, with an average decision time of 64 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 Reading Borough Council.

At 64 days on average, decisions in Reading Borough Council slightly exceed the 8-week statutory target for minor applications, though this is common across many councils.

The most common application types in Reading Borough Council were full planning applications (311), discharge of conditions (126), outline applications (124). Full planning applications account for 39% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 9 large-scale (major) developments, 162 medium-scale applications, 559 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

367 planning appeals were lodged against Reading Borough Council decisions, of which 84 were allowed and 244 were dismissed (26% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 155 applications
Refused: 35 applications
Withdrawn: 48 applications
Awaiting decision: 562 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.