How many planning applications has Wiltshire Council received?

Wiltshire Council received 5,674 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 83%.

How long does Wiltshire Council take to decide planning applications?

Wiltshire 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 Wiltshire Council?

Wiltshire Council approves 83% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I search Wiltshire Council planning applications?

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

How do I object to a planning application in Wiltshire Council?

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

Can I appeal a Wiltshire Council planning decision?

Yes. If Wiltshire Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 1384 appeals were lodged against Wiltshire Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 31% success rate.

Wiltshire Council Planning Applications

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

Region: South West

About Wiltshire Council

Wiltshire Council, established as Wiltshire County Council in 1889, serves as the local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Wiltshire in South West England. Since becoming a unitary authority in 2009, it combines the roles of both a county and district council, with its headquarters located at County Hall in Trowbridge. Notably, the non-metropolitan county is distinct from the larger ceremonial county, which also encompasses Swindon, making it a key player in local planning applications and governance.

Governance

Leader: Ian Thorn (Liberal Democrats), since 20 May 2025

Chair: Laura Mayes (Conservative), since 20 May 2025

Chief Executive: Lucy Townsend, since 24 July 2024

Seats: 98 councillors (term: 4 years)

Founded: 1 April 1889

Last election: 1 May 2025

Political composition: Liberal Democrats (43), Independent (1), Conservative (38), Reform UK (10), Independent (5), Labour (1)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Wiltshire Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Wiltshire Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Wiltshire 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 027E

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 Wiltshire 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 Wiltshire Council based on the last 24 months of planning data.

Towns and villages in Wiltshire Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Wiltshire Council area.

Monitoring Stations

6 flood monitoring stations near Wiltshire 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 Wiltshire Council

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

The Wiltshire 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 240 designated conservation areas within the Wiltshire 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: Aldbourne, All Cannings, Alton, Avebury, Axford, Baydon, Bishops Cannings, Bromham, Brunton, Burbage, and 230 more.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Wiltshire 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 Wiltshire Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 5,674 planning applications Wiltshire Council received. Of these, 83% were approved, with an average decision time of 58 days.

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

At 58 days on average, decisions in Wiltshire Council slightly exceed the 8-week statutory target for minor applications, though this is common across many councils.

The most common application types in Wiltshire Council were full planning applications (2,153), tree works (1,637), discharge of conditions (623). Full planning applications account for 38% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 39 large-scale (major) developments, 1,112 medium-scale applications, 4,523 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

1,384 planning appeals were lodged against Wiltshire Council decisions, of which 374 were allowed and 833 were dismissed (31% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 1,575 applications
Refused: 145 applications
Withdrawn: 176 applications
Awaiting decision: 3,778 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.