Searches User Guide: Planning applications

Click here for the limitations of reports produced after 24th February 2025

Click here for the limitations of reports produced prior to 24th February 2025. 

Reports produced from 24th February 2025

The planning applications section of this report contains data provided under licence from Serac Tech*, who collect thousands of planning applications per day. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the data, neither Groundsure or SeracTech are able to check the accuracy of each application and cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies. All application information is based on the information submitted by the applicant or processed by the local authority at the time of application.

As with any dataset of this size and complexity, there are limitations, and we recommend that thorough independent enquiries are made with the local authority.

The planning section in the report is fully automated and neither Groundsure or SeracTech undertakes visits to the local authority or manually search for planning records against other sources, as this would be cost prohibitive to most clients. With each report, SeracTech provides Groundsure with the location details of each planning application, which is then published within our report. 

Application / project categories

Home improver: where the application relates to an existing dwelling and includes householder or permitted development applications for works including extensions, alterations, conversation, repairs etc. 

Small residential: 1-2 new dwellings

Medium residential: 3-9 new dwellings

Large residential: 10 + new dwellings

Mixed & commercial: all other applications

Application locations

The method for deriving the location detail depends on the type of application and/or the information available from the individual local authorities, and will be represented as either a single point or polygon. The location detail may be derived from the following sources:

• Polygon from interactive planning map;
• Document, e.g. planning application form;
• Digital webform;
• Point from from interactive planning map;
• Geolocation;
• Human-resource where none of the above are available.

If the application is represented by a point, it may not represent the nearest border of the development and may fall outside of the development boundary. If the application is represented by a polygon, we only map the outer extents of the proposed development.

Search distances

Groundsure has incorporated a dynamic search radius to ensure the most relevant data is presented. This variable search distance is based on Office for National Statistics (ONS) data which categorises areas according to the size of settlement. Groundsure has distilled these into three core categories - mega urban, urban and rural:

Exclusions

Some planning applications identified as being refused, may have subsequently been granted on appeal. These will not be shown as such within the report. If a refused application is shown in the report, the client or beneficiary should make independent thorough enquiries of the Local Authority to determine its current status. 

Other application types are also excluded from the report, these include but are not limited to Tree Preservation Orders/any applications relating to trees, Discharge of conditions, Non-material amendments, Variations or removal of conditions, Approval of conditions/details, Advertisement consents. Additionally, some withdrawn applications may not appear within the report. 

The report also does not include any areas of land which may be identified for future development within the local development plan or equivalent, but for which no formal planning application exists.

Web links

The links for planning records were extracted at the time the application was submitted therefore some links may no longer work. In these cases, the application details can be found by entering the application reference manually into the Authority's planning website.

Other

Due to data collection methods and processing time, there may be a period of up to 10 days between the application being published on the local authority website and appearing within the Groundsure report. 

It is important to note the terms and conditions under which the report was sold, and in particular, whilst Groundsure makes every effort to ensure that data is sourced from reliable providers, it is unable to guarantee that the information is accurate, complete or up to date. Groundsure shall not be liable for any losses or damages incurred by the client or beneficiary, including but not limited to any losses or damages that arise as a result of any error, omission or inaccuracy in any part of the Groundsure Materials where such part is based on any Third Party Content or any reasonable interpretation of Third Party Content.

We recommend checking the contents of the TA6 Property Information Form completed by the seller to determine if any planning applications were revealed. If they were not and you believe this should have been included we recommend discussing this with your conveyancer.

 

 

Reports produced before 24th February 2025

The planning applications section of Groundsure reports contains data provided under licence from Glenigan, who are widely recognised in the industry as the market leaders in the collection and distribution of planning information in the UK. Glenigan collects on average 4,000 planning applications per day. As such, neither Groundsure or Glenigan are able to check the accuracy of the information that has been submitted by the applicant. All application information is based on the information submitted at the time of application and due to the volumes and the automated processes involved it is not possible to undertake additional checks to confirm its accuracy. As with any dataset of this size and complexity there are limitations, which are highlighted below.

The planning section in our report is fully automated and Groundsure does not undertake visits to the Local Authority or manually search for planning records against other sources as this would be cost-prohibitive to most clients. With each report, Glenigan provides Groundsure with the location detail for each planning application, which is then published within our report. The method for deriving the location detail depends on the type of planning application.

Application size

The location of applications are represented in this report as single points for house extensions and small new builds, small developments and points or polygons for large developments. If an application associated with a small development is shown on the map as a polygon it is because it was once classified as a large development and has since been downgraded.

Application location

The location of applications is derived from either the grid references provided by the applicant on the planning application form or by address finding software using the site address. If the application is represented by a point, it may not represent the nearest border of the development and may fall outside of the development boundary. If the application is represented by a polygon, we only map the outer extents of proposed developments. Some developments are comprised of multiple areas and in these cases we will show all polygons on the map but only label the one closest to the property. The information contained within this report should be used in conjunction with a visit to the relevant local authority’s website to determine the exact location of the development, determine any possible distinctions within the development area, and how this may impact the subject property.

Search distances

Groundsure has incorporated a dynamic search radius to ensure the most relevant data is presented. This variable search distance is based on House of Commons Library data which categorises areas according to the size of the settlement. Groundsure has distilled these into three core categories. These categories are mega urban, urban and rural and the following search distances apply:

Please note, the search radius assigned to this property is detailed within the planning section of the report. Due to differing methodologies adopted by Local Authorities, some planning applications identified as having been refused may have subsequently been granted on appeal without appearing as such within this report. As such, if any refused applications are identified within this report, or should the existence or absence of a planning application, consent or similar have a material impact with regard to the decision to purchase a property, the client or beneficiary should make independent thorough enquiries of the Local Authority.

Exclusions

Groundsure has excluded certain records of the publicly available data from this report which may have created duplications of reference to the same application. This includes, but is not limited to, data relating to applications such as amendments or variations of planning applications, discharge of conditions, or other associated applications. The report does not contain information on Lawful Development Certificates, Permitted Developments, Prior Approvals, Tree Preservation Orders, and other applications that are considered minor in terms of the level of construction. Additionally, an area of land may be identified for development within the local authority development plan, but for which no formal planning application exists. As such these are not included within the search.

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Groundsure provides a web link to individual planning records in the report, but over time Local Authorities may have altered their website structure or record storage and so not all links may still be active. In the case of broken links, customers can use the planning application reference to search the Local Authority planning website manually. Due to data collection methods and processing time, there may be a period of up to 10 days between the application being published on the local authority website and appearing within the Groundsure report.

It is important to note the terms and conditions under which the report was sold, and in particular, whilst Groundsure makes every effort to ensure that data is sourced from reliable providers, it is unable to guarantee that the information is accurate, complete or up to date. Groundsure shall not be liable for any losses or damages incurred by the client or beneficiary, including but not limited to any losses or damages that arise as a result of any error, omission or inaccuracy in any part of the Groundsure Materials where such part is based on any Third Party Content or any reasonable interpretation of Third Party Content. We recommend checking the contents of the TA6 Property Information Form completed by the seller to determine if any planning applications were revealed. If they were not and you believe this should have been included we recommend discussing this with your conveyancer.