How many planning applications has Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea received?

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea received 2,198 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 85%.

How long does Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea take to decide planning applications?

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea takes an average of 79 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 Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea?

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea approves 85% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I object to a planning application in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea?

To object to a Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea planning application, you must submit your representation to Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea 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 Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea planning portal where objections can be submitted.

Can I appeal a Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea planning decision?

Yes. If Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 1398 appeals were lodged against Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea decisions in the last 24 months, with a 41% success rate.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Planning Applications

Q: How do I search Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea planning applications?

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

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

Region: London

About Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the smallest borough in London, boasts royal status and is renowned for its affluence and high population density. Home to prestigious areas such as Notting Hill, Kensington, South Kensington, Chelsea, and Knightsbridge, this Inner London borough presents unique planning opportunities and challenges for developers and residents alike.

Governance

Founded: 1 April 1965

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea 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: Wandsworth
Parliamentary constituency: Battersea
LSOA: Wandsworth 001C

Crime Statistics

1,024 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

anti-social-behaviour: 264
violent-crime: 237
other-theft: 106
shoplifting: 101
vehicle-crime: 89
theft-from-the-person: 55
public-order: 50
burglary: 36
drugs: 26
robbery: 22
bicycle-theft: 20
other-crime: 10
possession-of-weapons: 6
criminal-damage-arson: 2

Keyword Scorecard

Planning constraint analysis based on the last 24 months of applications in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

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 Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea based on the last 24 months of planning data.

Towns and villages in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea area.

Monitoring Stations

4 flood monitoring stations near Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Kingston (River Thames)
Winsford Road (River Pool)
Westminster (Thames Tideway)
Trowlock Island (River Thames)

A brief summary of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea area recorded 1024 crimes in the most recent reporting period. Prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.

Conservation Areas

There is 1 designated conservation area within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea 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: No data available for publication by HE.

The council area encompasses 8 towns and villages, including Chelsea, Kensal Town and Kensington. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Planning Applications

Planning Signal provides a free, fast planning search for Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Use the postcode search above to find planning applications near any address in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea area. Unlike the official Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea 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 Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea 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 Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 2,198 planning applications Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea received. Of these, 85% were approved, with an average decision time of 79 days.

This is broadly in line with the national average of approximately 87%. Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea maintains a standard approach to planning decisions.

The average decision period of 79 days exceeds the 8-week target for minor applications but falls within the 13-week target for major schemes. Applicants should plan for approximately 12 weeks from submission to decision.

The most common application types in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea were full planning applications (748), discharge of conditions (413), listed building and heritage (299). Full planning applications account for 34% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 22 large-scale (major) developments, 473 medium-scale applications, 1,702 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

1,398 planning appeals were lodged against Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea decisions, of which 491 were allowed and 719 were dismissed (41% success rate). This relatively high appeal success rate suggests that the local authority may be refusing some applications that the Planning Inspectorate considers acceptable.

Application Outcomes

Approved: 920 applications
Refused: 44 applications
Withdrawn: 123 applications
Awaiting decision: 1,111 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.