How many planning applications has St Albans City and District Council received?

St Albans City and District Council received 2,521 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 69%.

How long does St Albans City and District Council take to decide planning applications?

St Albans City and District Council takes an average of 72 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 St Albans City and District Council?

St Albans City and District Council approves 69% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I object to a planning application in St Albans City and District Council?

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

St Albans City and District Council Planning Applications

Q: How do I search St Albans City and District Council planning applications?

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

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

Region: East of England

About St Albans City and District Council

St Albans City and District Council governs a non-metropolitan district in Hertfordshire, England, which encompasses the historic city of St Albans, the town of Harpenden, and several surrounding villages. This vibrant district is strategically located, bordered by North Hertfordshire, Welwyn Hatfield, Hertsmere, Watford, Three Rivers, Dacorum, and Central Bedfordshire, making it a focal point for planning applications in the region.

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to St Albans City and District Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for St Albans City and District Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in St Albans City and District 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: £376,935 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: North Hertfordshire
Parliamentary constituency: North East Hertfordshire
LSOA: North Hertfordshire 004E

Crime Statistics

76 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 26
anti-social-behaviour: 19
other-theft: 9
criminal-damage-arson: 8
shoplifting: 4
drugs: 3
public-order: 2
other-crime: 2
burglary: 1
possession-of-weapons: 1
robbery: 1

Keyword Scorecard

Planning constraint analysis based on the last 24 months of applications in St Albans City and District 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 St Albans City and District Council based on the last 24 months of planning data.

Towns and villages in St Albans City and District Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the St Albans City and District Council area.

Monitoring Stations

7 flood monitoring stations near St Albans City and District Council.

Arlesey (River Hiz)
Walkern (River Beane)
HITCHIN GS
ARLESEY GS
Rainfall station
Rainfall station
Rainfall station

A brief summary of St Albans City and District Council

The average property sale price in the St Albans City and District Council area is £376,935, based on 50 recent transactions.

The St Albans City and District Council area recorded 76 crimes in the most recent reporting period. Prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The St Albans City and District Council area includes 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 544 towns and villages, including Baldock, Berkhamsted, Bishop's Stortford, Borehamwood, Bushey and Cheshunt. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search St Albans City and District Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 2,521 planning applications St Albans City and District Council received. Of these, 69% were approved, with an average decision time of 72 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 St Albans City and District Council.

The average decision period of 72 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 St Albans City and District Council were full planning applications (799), tree works (678), outline applications (280). Full planning applications account for 32% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 62 large-scale (major) developments, 200 medium-scale applications, 2,258 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

Application Outcomes

Approved: 565 applications
Refused: 196 applications
Withdrawn: 53 applications
Awaiting decision: 1,707 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.