How many planning applications has Swindon Borough Council received?

Swindon Borough Council received 1,383 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 87%.

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

Swindon Borough Council takes an average of 50 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 Swindon Borough Council?

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

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

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

Can I appeal a Swindon Borough Council planning decision?

Yes. If Swindon Borough Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 364 appeals were lodged against Swindon Borough Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 30% success rate.

Swindon Borough Council Planning Applications

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

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

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

Region: South West

About Swindon Borough Council

Swindon Borough Council serves as the local authority for the Borough of Swindon in Wiltshire, England. Established in 1974 as Thamesdown Borough Council, it transitioned to a unitary authority in 1997, taking on both district and county council responsibilities. This independence from Wiltshire Council makes Swindon Borough Council a key player in planning applications and local governance in the area.

Population: 192,408 (2019) · Area: 40.0 km²

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

Governance

Leader: Jim Robbins (Labour), since 19 May 2023

Chair: Fay Howard (Labour), since 16 May 2025

Chief Executive: Samantha Mowbray, since July 2023

Seats: 57 councillors (term: 4 years)

Founded: 1974

Last election: 2 May 2024

Political composition: Labour (36), Conservative (15), Green (4), Liberal Democrats (1), Independent (1)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Swindon Borough Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Swindon Borough Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Swindon 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: £460,247 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Wiltshire
Parliamentary constituency: Melksham and Devizes
LSOA: Wiltshire 027A

Crime Statistics

52 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 12
burglary: 9
anti-social-behaviour: 8
vehicle-crime: 6
public-order: 5
criminal-damage-arson: 4
bicycle-theft: 3
other-theft: 3
shoplifting: 2

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Swindon Borough Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Swindon Borough Council area.

Monitoring Stations

6 flood monitoring stations near Swindon Borough Council.

Trowbridge (River Biss)
Semington (Semington Brook)
Midford (Midford Brook)
Bath Destructor Bridge (River Avon)
Bradford on Avon (River Avon)
Bathford (River Avon)

A brief summary of Swindon Borough Council

The average property sale price in the Swindon Borough Council area is £460,247, based on 50 recent transactions.

The Swindon Borough Council area recorded 52 crimes in the most recent reporting period. Prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.

Conservation Areas

There are 27 designated conservation areas within the Swindon 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: Badbury, Swindon Town Gardens, Bishopstone, Blunsdon St Andrew, Broad Blunsdon, Swindon Devizes Road, Hampton, Hannington, Highworth, Hinton Parva, and 17 more.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Swindon Borough Council area includes 1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): Gripwood Quarry SSSI; 1 Ancient Woodland site; 1 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): Cotswolds. These designations may affect planning decisions, as proposals near protected sites require environmental impact assessment and may face additional restrictions.

The council area encompasses 826 towns and villages, including Bradford-On-Avon, Calne, Chippenham, Cricklade, Devizes and Highworth. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Swindon Borough Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 1,383 planning applications Swindon Borough Council received. Of these, 87% were approved, with an average decision time of 50 days.

This is broadly in line with the national average of approximately 87%. Swindon Borough Council maintains a standard approach to planning decisions.

The average decision time of 50 days is within the government's 8-week statutory target for minor applications, indicating an efficient planning department.

The most common application types in Swindon Borough Council were full planning applications (557), discharge of conditions (181), outline applications (141). Full planning applications account for 40% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 40 large-scale (major) developments, 13 medium-scale applications, 1,112 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

364 planning appeals were lodged against Swindon Borough Council decisions, of which 104 were allowed and 243 were dismissed (30% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 518 applications
Refused: 51 applications
Withdrawn: 28 applications
Awaiting decision: 786 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.