How many planning applications has St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council received?

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council received 792 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 94%.

How long does St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council take to decide planning applications?

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council takes an average of 58 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 Helens Metropolitan Borough Council?

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council approves 94% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I object to a planning application in St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council?

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

Can I appeal a St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council planning decision?

Yes. If St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 139 appeals were lodged against St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 27% success rate.

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council Planning Applications

Q: How do I search St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council planning applications?

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

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

Region: North West

About St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

St Helens Borough Council, also known as St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, serves as the local authority for the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens in Merseyside, England. As a metropolitan borough council, it oversees a wide range of local government services and has been an integral part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority since 2014, making it a key player in regional planning and development initiatives.

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in St Helens Metropolitan 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: £275,095 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Wirral
Parliamentary constituency: Wirral West
LSOA: Wirral 041A

Crime Statistics

71 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 34
shoplifting: 12
anti-social-behaviour: 5
criminal-damage-arson: 5
public-order: 4
other-theft: 3
theft-from-the-person: 2
other-crime: 2
burglary: 1
drugs: 1
robbery: 1
vehicle-crime: 1

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council area.

Monitoring Stations

7 flood monitoring stations near St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council.

Davis Road (River Birket)
Greasby Road (Arrowe Brook)
Acton Lane (Arrowe Brook)
Fornalls Bridge (River Birket)
Folly Gates
Chase Way, Ellesmere Port (Rivacre Brook)
Great Culvert Entrance

A brief summary of St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

The average property sale price in the St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council area is £275,095, based on 50 recent transactions.

The St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council area recorded 71 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 Helens Metropolitan Borough Council area includes 1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): Dibbinsdale SSSI; 7 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 225 towns and villages, including Bebington, Billinge, Birkenhead, Bootle, Crosby and Formby. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 792 planning applications St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council received. Of these, 94% were approved, with an average decision time of 58 days.

This is notably above the national average of approximately 87%, suggesting a relatively permissive planning environment. Applicants in St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council may find that well-prepared applications have a strong chance of success.

At 58 days on average, decisions in St Helens Metropolitan 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 St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council were full planning applications (367), discharge of conditions (192), outline applications (97). Full planning applications account for 46% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 14 large-scale (major) developments, 18 medium-scale applications, 760 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

139 planning appeals were lodged against St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council decisions, of which 34 were allowed and 92 were dismissed (27% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 252 applications
Refused: 14 applications
Withdrawn: 3 applications
Awaiting decision: 523 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.