How many planning applications has Woking Borough Council received?

Woking Borough Council received 1,298 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 86%.

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

Woking Borough Council takes an average of 59 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 Woking Borough Council?

Woking Borough Council approves 86% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

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

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

Can I appeal a Woking Borough Council planning decision?

Yes. If Woking Borough Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 1244 appeals were lodged against Woking Borough Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 30% success rate.

Woking Borough Council Planning Applications

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

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

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

Region: South East

About Woking Borough Council

Woking Borough Council serves as the local authority for Woking in Surrey, England, and is comprised of 30 councillors representing 10 wards, with three members for each ward. Currently led by Ann-Marie Barker and controlled by the Liberal Democrats, the council operates from the Woking Civic Offices. For those researching planning applications in the area, this council is essential in overseeing development and local governance.

Governance

Leader: Ann-Marie Barker (Liberal Democrat), since 23 May 2022

Chair: Amanda Boote (Independent), since 19 May 2025

Chief Executive: Richard Carr, since April 2024

Seats: 30 councillors

Last election: 2 May 2024

Political composition: Liberal Democrats (24), Independent (5), Labour (1)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Woking Borough Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Woking Borough Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Woking 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: £443,141 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Runnymede
Parliamentary constituency: Runnymede and Weybridge
LSOA: Runnymede 010A

Crime Statistics

161 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 53
anti-social-behaviour: 40
shoplifting: 14
public-order: 13
other-theft: 12
criminal-damage-arson: 8
possession-of-weapons: 6
other-crime: 6
burglary: 3
vehicle-crime: 3
bicycle-theft: 2
drugs: 1

Keyword Scorecard

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

Towns and villages in Woking Borough Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Woking Borough Council area.

Monitoring Stations

6 flood monitoring stations near Woking Borough Council.

Pound Mill, Staines (Wraysbury River)
Chertsey Lock (River Thames)
Chertsey Bourne
Old Woking (River Wey)
Guildford Street (Chertsey Bourne)
Millbourne Bridge (Mill Bourne)

A brief summary of Woking Borough Council

The average property sale price in the Woking Borough Council area is £443,141, based on 50 recent transactions.

The Woking Borough Council area recorded 161 crimes in the most recent reporting period. Prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.

Conservation Areas

There are 25 designated conservation areas within the Woking 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: Sutton Park and Sutton Green, Wey and Godalming Navigations, Byfleet Village, Brooklands, Aviary Road, Pyrford, Pyrford, Old Woking, The Hockering, Woking, Ashwood Road and Heathside Park Road, Woking, Mount Hermon, Woking, and 15 more.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Woking Borough 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 479 towns and villages, including Addlestone, Ashford, Banstead, Camberley, Caterham and Chertsey. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Woking Borough Council Planning Applications

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

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 1,298 planning applications Woking Borough Council received. Of these, 86% were approved, with an average decision time of 59 days.

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

At 59 days on average, decisions in Woking 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 Woking Borough Council were full planning applications (521), tree works (236), discharge of conditions (143). 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, 20 large-scale (major) developments, 140 medium-scale applications, 950 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

1,244 planning appeals were lodged against Woking Borough Council decisions, of which 321 were allowed and 734 were dismissed (30% success rate).

Application Outcomes

Approved: 555 applications
Refused: 87 applications
Awaiting decision: 656 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.