How long do planning decisions take near Alston?

The average planning decision time near Alston is 44 days. The statutory target is 8 weeks (56 days) for minor applications and 13 weeks for major applications.

What is the planning approval rate near Alston?

The planning approval rate near Alston is 80%. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

What types of planning applications are most common near Alston?

The most common type of planning application near Alston is full planning applications, with 6 submissions in the last 24 months.

How can I track planning applications near Alston?

You can search and track planning applications near Alston on Planning Signal. Create a free account to save searches, watch specific applications, and receive email alerts when new plans are submitted nearby.

Alston, Cumbria Planning Applications

Recent planning applications near Alston, Cumbria.

Cumbria · England · settlement

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About Alston

Alston, situated in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, is known as the highest market town in England, perched at approximately 1,000 feet above sea level in the scenic North Pennines. The town lies within the civil parish of Alston Moor and enjoys road access to the Tyne Gap to the north, Weardale and Teesdale to the southeast, and Penrith to the southwest, making it a unique location for planning applications in a relatively isolated yet accessible area.

Population: 1,128 · Elevation: 300m

District: Alston Moor

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Town Insights

Property Prices

Average property sale price: £226,458 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Westmorland and Furness
Parliamentary constituency: Penrith and Solway
LSOA: Eden 001A

Crime Statistics

11 crimes reported in 2026-03.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 7
criminal-damage-arson: 2
shoplifting: 2

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings near Alston.

Keyword Scorecard

Planning constraint analysis based on the last 24 months of applications near Alston.

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 Alston based on the last 24 months of planning data.

Nearby Applications

6 planning applications found near Alston.

- Steel House Townhead Alston CA9 3SL
Replacement of existing rooflights with double glazed rooflights, installation of additional rooflights to the rear roof slope, replacement of front and rear doors and re-rendering of the front elevat
Status: Undecided | Type: Full | Council: Westmorland and Furness | Date: 2026-03-02
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- Steel House Townhead ALSTON CA9 3SL
S211 Notification; Conservation Area tree works: Lilac Bush (T1) – full removal of tree, to provide more light to Steel House and neighbouring property, also to prevent future structural damage to Ste
Status: Permitted | Type: Trees | Council: Westmorland and Furness | Date: 2025-12-29
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- Steel House Townhead ALSTON CA9 3SL
Retrospective application for the removal of peeling paint on the front elevation and subsequent coating of the front elevation with a limewash to match the underlying layer.
Status: Conditions | Type: Full | Council: Westmorland and Furness | Date: 2025-11-28
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- Aldenstone Townhead ALSTON CA9 3SL
S211 Conservation area tree works application; 3no Cypress trees to be reduced / pruned by one third of the current height. Pruning for stability, reduce impact on neighbours property and control furt
Status: Permitted | Type: Trees | Council: Westmorland and Furness | Date: 2025-07-30
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- High Mill Factory Factory Lane The Butts Alston CA9 3JU
Listed Building Consent for the restoration and repair of two overhead walkways connecting High Mill to the factory building.
Status: Conditions | Type: Heritage | Council: Westmorland and Furness | Date: 2024-06-13
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- BEECHWOOD, PARK LANE, ALSTON, CA9 3AB
T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 - reduce canopy by 15% and reduce internal branches overhanging neighbours border.
Status: Permitted | Type: Trees | Council: Westmorland and Furness | Date: 2023-04-19
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A brief summary of Alston in Cumbria

Alston sits at an elevation of 300 metres above sea level. The surrounding landscape and character of the area play an important role in how planning applications are assessed by the local authority.

Property prices in Alston show an average sale price of £226,458, based on 50 recent transactions recorded by HM Land Registry.

There were 11 crimes reported in the Alston area during the most recent period, a moderate level that is broadly in line with similar-sized settlements.

Alston has one conservation area within its boundaries: Alston. Planning applications within or near this conservation area are subject to additional scrutiny to preserve the architectural and historic character of the area. Homeowners and developers should be aware that permitted development rights may be restricted.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The area around Alston includes 1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): Alston Shingle Banks SSSI; 1 Ancient Woodland site; 1 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): North Pennines; 1 Special Areas of Conservation (SAC): Tyne & Nent. These designations may affect planning decisions, as proposals near protected sites require environmental impact assessment and may face additional restrictions.

For anyone interested in property development or monitoring local planning decisions, Alston planning applications can be searched by entering a local postcode above. Results include full application details, decision status, and the ability to track applications over time and set planning alerts to help you monitor and review pending planning applications.

Planning Activity in Alston

In the last 24 months, 15 planning applications were submitted near Alston. Of these, 80% were approved, with an average decision time of 44 days.

This is below the national average of approximately 87%, which may reflect stricter local policies, sensitivity of the area, or higher levels of speculative applications. Pre-application advice is particularly worthwhile near Alston.

The average decision time of 44 days is within the government's 8-week statutory target for minor applications, indicating an efficient planning department.

The most common application types near Alston were full planning applications (6), tree works (3), discharge of conditions (3). 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, 1 medium-scale application, 14 smaller schemes were submitted.

1 planning appeal was lodged, of which 1 was allowed and 0 were dismissed (100% success rate). This relatively high appeal success rate suggests that the local authority may be refusing some applications that the Planning Inspectorate considers acceptable.

Nearby Towns

Explore planning applications in nearby areas:

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.