Wells, Somerset Planning Applications
Recent planning applications near Wells, Somerset.
Somerset · England · City
About Wells
Wells, a historic cathedral city in Somerset, is situated on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills, approximately 21 miles from Weston-super-Mare and 22 miles from Bath. With a population of 11,145 as of the 2021 census and a compact built-up area of just 3.244 km², it is often referred to as England's smallest city. Renowned for the iconic Wells Cathedral, the city offers unique planning opportunities within a distinctive urban landscape, separate from any larger metropolitan area.
Population: 11,145 (2021)
District: Mendip
Website: https://www.wells.gov.uk
Enter a postcode to search for planning applications near Wells.
Town Insights
Property Prices
Average property sale price: £389,669 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).
Area Information
- Admin district: Somerset
- Parliamentary constituency: Wells and Mendip Hills
- LSOA: Mendip 005F
Crime Statistics
72 crimes reported in 2026-02.
Crime Breakdown
- violent-crime: 23
- anti-social-behaviour: 12
- shoplifting: 11
- public-order: 8
- burglary: 4
- other-theft: 4
- criminal-damage-arson: 2
- drugs: 2
- robbery: 2
- vehicle-crime: 2
- possession-of-weapons: 1
- theft-from-the-person: 1
Flood Risk
No active flood warnings near Wells.
Keyword Scorecard
Planning constraint analysis based on the last 24 months of applications near Wells.
- 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 Wells based on the last 24 months of planning data.
Nearby Applications
38 planning applications found near Wells.
- - 10 Chamberlain Street Wells Somerset BA5 2PF
Yew (1) - Remove 1.5m from sides & re-shape. Bay hedge (2) - Remove 1m from height & 300mm on garden side & cut back to boundary neighbour side. Bay (3) - Remove 1m from sides & 2m from top. Pear x 2
Status: Undecided | Type: Trees | Council: Mendip | Date: 2026-04-13
View full details - - 1 - 2 Somerset Cottages South Street Wells Somerset BA5 1SN
Approval of details reserved by condition 5 (Ducts, Pipes, Rainwater Goods etc.) from planning permission 2021/0933/FUL (Conversion of house to original state to create two dwellings. Works to include
Status: Undecided | Type: Conditions | Council: Mendip | Date: 2026-03-11
View full details - - 1 - 2 Somerset Cottages South Street Wells Somerset BA5 1SN
Approval of details reserved by conditions 5 (Re-pointing), 7 (Ducts, Pipes, Rainwater Goods etc.), 8 (Installation of services) & 9 (Interior Treatments and Finishes) from listed building consent 202
Status: Undecided | Type: Conditions | Council: Mendip | Date: 2026-03-09
View full details - - The Office Willmotts Yard Southover Wells Somerset BA5 1UH
Application for an existing lawful development certificate for use of the stone building as an office (use class E)
Status: Undecided | Type: Amendment | Council: Mendip | Date: 2026-02-24
View full details - - Flat A 44 High Street Wells Somerset
Replacement Window on rear elevation
Status: Undecided | Type: Heritage | Council: Mendip | Date: 2026-02-18
View full details - - 67 Portway Wells Somerset BA5 2BQ
Two storey rear extension and replacement annex.
Status: Undecided | Type: Full | Council: Mendip | Date: 2026-02-16
View full details - - Wells Police Station 18 Glastonbury Road Wells Somerset
Modification of Schedule 2 of S106 relating to 2023/1275/FUL to vary trigger for payment of affordable housing to on or before occupation of 50% of the dwellings.
Status: Undecided | Type: Conditions | Council: Mendip | Date: 2026-02-11
View full details - - 24 - 26 High Street Wells Somerset BA5 2SJ
T1 - Holly - Remove. T2 - Bay - Reduce top and side close to building x 2m to clear.
Status: Permitted | Type: Trees | Council: Mendip | Date: 2026-02-10
View full details - - Natwest Bank 7 High Street Wells Somerset BA5 2AD
Remedial works to both car park boundary walls at the rear of property.
Status: Rejected | Type: Heritage | Council: Mendip | Date: 2026-01-30
View full details - - 15 Clements Close Wells Somerset BA5 1UF
Demolish garage and erect two storey side extension and single storey rear extension (resubmission of 2022/1219/HSE).
Status: Undecided | Type: Full | Council: Mendip | Date: 2026-01-30
View full details - - Natwest Bank 7 High Street Wells Somerset BA5 2AD
Replacement of internal ATM & Coin Car.
Status: Permitted | Type: Heritage | Council: Mendip | Date: 2025-12-30
View full details - - Natwest Bank 7 High Street Wells Somerset BA5 2AD
Replacement of internal ATM & Coin Car.
Status: Withdrawn | Type: Full | Council: Mendip | Date: 2025-12-30
View full details - - 1 Market Place Wells Somerset BA5 2RN
5no. New Fascia Signs and 1no. High Level Projecting Sign at High Level.
Status: Undecided | Type: Advertising | Council: Mendip | Date: 2025-12-23
View full details - - 1 Market Place Wells Somerset BA5 2RN
Application of new shopfront signage at high level to existing fascia. New plant equipment at roof level. Forming of opening between buildings internally at ground floor level.
Status: Withdrawn | Type: Heritage | Council: Mendip | Date: 2025-12-17
View full details - - 1 Market Place Wells Somerset BA5 2RN
Application of new shopfront signage at high level to existing fascia. New plant equipment at roof level. Forming of opening between buildings internally at ground floor level.
Status: Withdrawn | Type: Full | Council: Mendip | Date: 2025-12-17
View full details - - 1-3 & 31-35 Huddleston Court South Street Wells Somerset BA5 1SB
Replace existing timber windows with UPVC windows.
Status: Permitted | Type: Full | Council: Mendip | Date: 2025-12-12
View full details - - 4-8 & 37-41 Huddleston Court South Street Wells Somerset BA5 1SB
Replace existing timber windows with UPVC windows.
Status: Permitted | Type: Full | Council: Mendip | Date: 2025-12-12
View full details - - Thyer House 31 Sadler Street Wells Somerset BA5 2RR
External redecoration of principal elevation and removal of non-original business signage. (retrospective)
Status: Rejected | Type: Heritage | Council: Mendip | Date: 2025-12-05
View full details - - 17B St John Street Wells Somerset BA5 1SW
Demolition of existing single storey lean-to and erection of two storey side extension
Status: Permitted | Type: Full | Council: Mendip | Date: 2025-12-03
View full details - - 35A Southover Wells Somerset BA5 1UH
Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed: Change of use from Commercial, Business and Service (Use Class E) to 1no. Dwellinghouse (Use Class C3). (REVISED PLANS AND FRA RE
Status: Permitted | Type: Outline | Council: Mendip | Date: 2025-12-02
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A brief summary of Wells in Somerset
Wells, a historic cathedral city in Somerset, is situated on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills, approximately 21 miles from Weston-super-Mare and 22 miles from Bath. With a population of 11,145 as of the 2021 census and a compact built-up area of just 3.244 km², it is often referred to as England's smallest city. Renowned for the iconic Wells Cathedral, the city offers unique planning opportunities within a distinctive urban landscape, separate from any larger metropolitan area. The City has a population of approximately 11,145 (2021 estimate). It sits within the Mendip district.
Property prices in Wells show an average sale price of £389,669, based on 50 recent transactions recorded by HM Land Registry.
The Wells area recorded 72 crimes in the most recent reporting period. As with any urban or suburban area, prospective residents may wish to review the detailed crime breakdown for further context.
Wells has one conservation area within its boundaries: Wells. 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 Wells includes 6 Ancient Woodland sites; 1 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): Mendip Hills. 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, Wells planning applications can be searched by entering a local postcode above. Further local information can be found on the community website at https://www.wells.gov.uk. 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 Wells
In the last 24 months, 49 planning applications were submitted near Wells. Of these, 65% were approved, with an average decision time of 74 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 Wells.
The average decision period of 74 days exceeds the 8-week target for minor applications but falls within the 13-week target for major schemes. Applicants should plan for approximately 11 weeks from submission to decision.
The most common application types near Wells were full planning applications (18), listed building and heritage (13), tree works (7). Full planning applications account for 37% 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, 48 smaller schemes were submitted.
1 planning appeal was lodged, of which 0 were allowed and 1 was dismissed (0% success rate). This low success rate indicates that the council's refusal decisions are generally upheld by the Planning Inspectorate.
Application Outcomes
- Approved: 17 applications
- Refused: 6 applications
- Withdrawn: 3 applications
- Awaiting decision: 23 applications
Nearby Towns
Explore planning applications in nearby areas:
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- Keward planning applications
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- Upper Milton planning applications
- Launcherley planning applications
- Coxley planning applications
- Upper Coxley planning applications
- Walcombe planning 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.