Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Planning Signal.
What is Planning Signal?
Planning Signal is a UK planning application search and monitoring platform. It lets you search over 20 million planning applications across 380+ local councils by postcode, town, or council name. You can save searches, watch individual applications, and receive daily email alerts when new applications are submitted or existing ones change status. It's used by homeowners, property developers, architects, solicitors, community groups, and anyone who wants to stay informed about planning activity in their area.
Why should I use Planning Signal instead of checking council websites?
Council planning portals only show applications for a single authority, and most don't offer email alerts or map views. Planning Signal searches across all 380+ councils in one search, plots results on an interactive map, and sends you daily alerts automatically. It also layers on environmental data (flood risk, conservation areas, listed buildings, ecology) that you'd otherwise have to check across multiple government websites. Instead of manually visiting council sites every week, you get everything in one place.
Is Planning Signal free to use?
Yes. The Free plan gives you unlimited searches, a 250m–500m search radius, one saved search with email alerts, and the ability to watch one application — all with no credit card required. Paid plans (Pro, Teams, Enterprise) unlock larger search radii, more saved searches and watched applications, advanced filters, team collaboration, and analytics tools. You can upgrade or downgrade at any time.
Which councils and areas does Planning Signal cover?
Planning Signal covers over 380 local planning authorities across England, Wales, and Scotland — virtually every council in Great Britain. This includes metropolitan boroughs, London boroughs, district councils, unitary authorities, and national park authorities. You can search by any UK postcode or browse by town name. If your area has a council planning portal, we almost certainly cover it.
What is a planning application?
A planning application is a formal request to a local council for permission to build something new, alter an existing building, change how a building is used, or carry out certain types of development. Most significant building work in the UK requires planning permission. Applications are submitted to the local planning authority (usually the district or borough council), which then assesses the proposal against local and national planning policies before making a decision.
What do the different planning application statuses mean?
The main statuses are: Pending (also called Undecided) — the application has been submitted and is awaiting a decision from the council. Permitted (also called Approved) — the council has granted planning permission, possibly with conditions. Refused (also called Rejected) — the council has declined the application. Withdrawn — the applicant has pulled the application before a decision was made, often to resubmit a revised version. Applications can also go to Appeal if the applicant challenges a refusal.
How long does a planning application take to be decided?
Councils have target timeframes set by the government: 8 weeks for straightforward (minor) applications, 13 weeks for major applications, and 16 weeks for applications that require an Environmental Impact Assessment. In practice, many applications take longer due to requests for additional information, negotiations between the applicant and council, or high workloads. Some complex or controversial applications can take several months or even years.
What is the consultation period for a planning application?
When a planning application is submitted, the council is required to publicise it and invite comments from neighbours and the public. The standard consultation period is 21 days from the date the notice is published. During this time, anyone can submit comments (often called representations) supporting or objecting to the proposal. It's important to respond within the 21-day window, as late comments may not be considered.
How do I object to a planning application?
To object to a planning application, you need to submit a written representation to the local council during the 21-day consultation period. Your objection should be based on material planning considerations — these include things like impact on neighbouring properties, traffic and parking, design and appearance, loss of light or privacy, noise, and whether it's consistent with local planning policy. Personal opinions, loss of property value, or disputes with the applicant are not considered valid planning grounds. You can usually submit objections via the council's planning portal, by email, or by letter.
What is permitted development?
Permitted development rights allow certain types of building work to be carried out without needing to submit a formal planning application. Common examples include small rear extensions, loft conversions within certain size limits, outbuildings, fences under 2 metres, and solar panels. However, permitted development rights can be restricted in conservation areas, for listed buildings, in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and through conditions known as Article 4 Directions. Always check with your local council before assuming permitted development applies.
What is the difference between planning permission and building regulations?
Planning permission controls what you can build, where, and how it looks — it's about the use and appearance of land and buildings. Building regulations control how the building work is carried out — they set standards for structural safety, fire safety, energy efficiency, ventilation, drainage, and accessibility. You may need both for a project: planning permission to approve the principle of the development, and building regulations approval to ensure the construction meets safety standards. Some work needs only one or the other, and some needs both.
How do I find planning applications near me?
Enter your postcode into the search bar on Planning Signal and choose a search radius (250m to 10km depending on your plan). Results appear instantly, plotted on an interactive map with status filters so you can see pending, permitted, refused, and withdrawn applications separately. You can also search by town name or browse by council. Each result links directly to the full application details on the council's own website.
How do I check if a property has planning permission?
Search for the property's postcode on Planning Signal and look through the results for the specific address. You can use the text search filter (available on Pro and above) to search by address or reference number. Each application shows its current status — Permitted, Refused, Pending, or Withdrawn — along with the decision date and full description. For a complete planning history of a specific property, you may also want to check the council's planning portal directly, as some older records may predate digital systems.
What search radius can I use?
The Free plan includes 250m and 500m radii. Pro extends this to 2km, Teams to 5km, and Enterprise to 10km. Larger radii are useful for property developers researching areas, professionals monitoring multiple sites, and anyone who wants a broader view of planning activity in their neighbourhood or region.
How do email alerts work?
When you save a search, Planning Signal checks for new applications in that area every day. If new applications appear or watched applications change status, you receive a daily email digest summarising what's changed. You can toggle alerts on or off for each saved search individually. This means you don't have to manually re-run searches — you'll be notified automatically.
What does watching an application mean?
Watching an application means Planning Signal will monitor it for changes and alert you when something happens — for example, when a decision is made, conditions are added, an appeal is lodged, or the status changes for any reason. This is useful for tracking specific developments you care about, such as a proposed extension next door or a major development near your home.
How up-to-date is the planning data?
Our systems fetch new applications from council portals daily and re-check existing undecided applications every night for status changes. Most new applications appear on Planning Signal within 24 hours of being published by the council. Decision updates, appeals, and amendments are typically reflected within 24–48 hours.
Where does the planning data come from?
We aggregate planning application data from official council planning portals via PlanIt.org.uk, and enrich each application with additional data: flood risk zones from the Environment Agency, heritage assets from Historic England, ecological designations from Natural England, and more. Every application on Planning Signal links directly back to the council's own published record, so you can always verify the source.
What environmental and heritage data do you provide?
For each application, Planning Signal automatically checks whether the site falls within a flood risk zone (Environment Agency data), a conservation area, near a listed building (Historic England), or within an ecological designation such as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (Natural England / MAGIC). This context helps you understand the constraints that may affect whether an application is approved and what conditions might be attached.
Do you cover Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland?
We currently cover England, Scotland, and Wales — over 380 local planning authorities. Northern Ireland operates under a separate planning system and is not yet covered, but it's on our roadmap. If you need coverage for a specific area, get in touch and we'll let you know.
What is the difference between Pro and Teams?
Pro is designed for individuals — homeowners, sole practitioners, or community members who need a larger search radius (up to 2km), more saved searches (10), more watched applications (20), and advanced filters. Teams adds multi-user collaboration: invite team members, share saved searches across your team, and work from a shared dashboard. Teams also unlocks a 5km search radius with 100 saved searches and 100 watched applications.
Can I change my plan at any time?
Yes. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your subscription at any time from your account settings. When you upgrade, you get immediate access to the new features. When you downgrade, the change takes effect at the end of your current billing period. There are no lock-in contracts or cancellation fees.
Do you offer yearly billing?
Yes. All paid plans are available on monthly or yearly billing. Yearly billing gives you 2 months free — you pay for 10 months and get 12. That's a 17% saving compared to paying monthly. You can switch between monthly and yearly billing at any time.
What happens to my saved searches if I downgrade?
Your saved searches and watched applications are preserved when you downgrade, but you'll only be able to actively use the number allowed by your new plan. You can choose which ones to keep active. No data is deleted when you change plans.
Do you offer refunds?
If you're not satisfied within the first 14 days of a paid subscription, contact us for a full refund — no questions asked. After 14 days, you can cancel at any time and continue using your plan until the end of the billing period.