To view planning applications near you, enter your postcode in the search box above. PlanWatch shows every planning application logged with your local council — extensions, new builds, demolitions, change-of-use and more — and links each one straight to the official council record. It's free, needs no council login, and covers 378 UK planning authorities, so you don't need to know which council area you're in or how their portal works: the postcode does that for you. Across England, Scotland and Wales, more than 470,000 planning applications are filed every year, and each one is public. Below, we explain exactly how to read an application — what the reference number means, how to check the decision status, and how to comment or object inside the public consultation window before it closes.
The fastest way to see what's happening near you
Every planning application submitted to a UK council is a public document. The slow way to find them is to work out which of the 378 planning authorities covers your address, find that council's planning portal (most run a system called "Public Access"), and search it. Each portal looks different and many ask you to register.
The fast way is to search by postcode here. Enter the postcode and PlanWatch pulls the applications logged near that address from the relevant council and links each one to the official record — no login, no working out council boundaries. If you want to keep watching that area, you can save a free email alert and we'll tell you when a new application appears, rather than you re-checking the portal.
What you'll actually see in a planning application
This is the part most guides skip and most council portals never explain. Open any application and you're looking at four things that matter:
- The reference number — a code the council assigns, e.g.
24/01234/FULorAPP/2026/0456. The format is set by each council, but it almost always encodes the year and the application type. You'll need it if you want to comment or track the case. - The description — a one-line summary written by the applicant, e.g. "Single-storey rear extension" or "Change of use from retail (Class E) to residential (Class C3)".
- The documents — the submitted plans, the design and access statement, and (later) the planning officer's report. These are where the real detail lives: heights, materials, distances to boundaries.
- The status and key dates — whether it's still open, decided, or withdrawn, and the dates that govern your window to have a say.
How to read the decision status
The status word tells you where the application is in its journey:
| Status you'll see | What it means | Can you still comment? |
|---|---|---|
| Registered / Pending consideration | The council has accepted it and started the clock | Yes — this is the live window |
| Under consultation | Neighbours and consultees are being asked for views | Yes — comment now |
| Awaiting decision | Consultation closed; the officer is deciding | Usually no — comments may still be read if not yet decided |
| Approved / Granted | Permission given (often with conditions) | No — but you can check the conditions |
| Refused | Permission denied | No — the applicant may appeal |
| Withdrawn | The applicant pulled it | No |
| Appeal lodged | A refusal is being challenged at the Planning Inspectorate | Yes — you can comment again on the appeal |
If you're watching a property and want to know the moment the status changes, that's exactly what a planning alert is for.
The comment window: how to object or support (and the 21-day rule)
When a council registers an application, it publicises it — by letter to immediate neighbours, a site notice, and the online register. From that point there is a public consultation period, normally a minimum of 21 days, during which anyone can comment. You don't have to be a direct neighbour.
To make your comment count:
- Submit it in writing through the council's portal, quoting the reference number, before the consultation deadline shown on the application.
- Stick to material planning considerations — overlooking and loss of privacy, loss of light, highway safety, noise, design and scale, impact on a conservation area or listed building. These are the grounds a planning officer can legally weigh.
- Avoid non-planning points — that you dislike the applicant, that it'll affect your property value, or boundary/ownership disputes. Officers must disregard these, however strongly felt.
Our full walkthrough is in How to object to a planning application. Whether you object or support, the comment is public and forms part of the decision record.
How long does a decision take?
Councils work to statutory targets:
- Householder and minor applications (extensions, a single house): a target of 8 weeks from validation.
- Major applications (10+ homes, large commercial): a target of 13 weeks (16 weeks where an Environmental Impact Assessment is required).
In practice many run longer, and the council can agree an extension of time with the applicant. The status and dates on the application are the source of truth — which is why watching the case beats guessing.
Viewing applications for a specific council
If you already know the council, you can jump straight to its area on PlanWatch — every page works the same way (search by postcode, see live applications, link to the official record):
- Planning applications in Sheffield
- Planning applications in Leeds
- Planning applications in Bristol
- Planning applications in Manchester
- Planning applications in Buckinghamshire
- Browse all council areas
But you don't need to — if you're not sure which council covers your address, just use the postcode search at the top of this page and it routes you automatically.
Don't want to keep checking? Get alerted
Applications appear with little notice and the comment window is short. Instead of re-visiting the portal, set up a free planning alert: enter your postcode, choose how close to your address you want to watch, and PlanWatch emails you when a new application is logged nearby — across all 378 authorities, free. If you want to track a single property or a wider area in more depth, there's an optional paid tier, but the core alert is free.
Quick answers
Are planning applications public?
Yes. Every planning application submitted to a UK council is a public document, viewable online for free. You can read the plans, the description, and the decision.
Can I view planning applications without registering with the council?
Yes. You can view them through PlanWatch by postcode without any council login. You only need to register on the council's own portal if you want to submit a formal comment there.
How do I find planning applications for my exact address?
Enter your postcode in the search box at the top of this page. It returns the applications logged near that address and links each to the official council record.
How far back can I see?
Councils publish current and historic applications; how far back varies by authority. Recent and live applications — the ones you can still comment on — are the priority and are all shown.
Is it free?
Yes. Searching and viewing applications, and the basic email alert, are free across 378 UK planning authorities.
Want to know if there's a planning application near you?
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