How to search for planning applications in London

Every week, hundreds of planning applications are submitted across London’s 32 boroughs and the City of London. Whether you are a resident, a community group, a student of urbanism or a professional, knowing how to find and track these applications is essential for understanding what is being built – and challenged – in the city.

This guide explains the main official channels for searching planning applications in London, what each source covers, and how to read the key documents.

Why you need more than one source

No single website holds every planning application in London. Each borough runs its own planning register, the Greater London Authority (GLA) handles “referable” applications (large or strategic schemes), and the national Planning Data platform aggregates some but not all records. To get a complete picture you often need to check multiple sources.

Using borough planning portals

Every London borough publishes a public planning register online. These registers are required by law and contain all applications submitted since 1948. The search interfaces vary, but all allow you to search by address, postcode or application reference number.

What you can find

– Application form, drawings and supporting documents
– Consultation responses (objections, letters of support)
– Officer reports and committee decisions
– Appeal outcomes

Where to start

Go to your borough’s website and look for “Planning”, “Building Control” or “Planning applications”. The exact URL differs – for example, Camden uses `camden.gov.uk/planning` while Hackney uses `hackney.gov.uk/planning-applications`. A quick web search for “[borough name] planning applications” usually works.

The GLA planning portal for large schemes

The Mayor of London must be consulted on applications that meet certain thresholds – for example, developments of 150 or more homes, buildings over 30 metres tall, or schemes that affect strategic roads or green belt. These are called “referable” applications and are listed on the GLA website.

GLA planning search

Visit `london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/planning-applications` and use the search tool. You can filter by date, status (under consideration, decided, appealed) and type (stage 1, stage 2, stage 1 refusal, etc.). The GLA publishes the applicant’s documents, the Mayor’s stage reports, and any direction letters.

Planning Data – the national aggregator

The UK government’s Planning Data platform (`planning.data.gov.uk`) aims to make planning information more accessible by collecting data from local authorities. It currently covers planning applications as well as other datasets such as tree preservation orders and conservation areas.

How to use it

– Search by postcode, local authority, or application status
– Download data in CSV or GeoJSON for mapping
– View basic metadata: application number, decision date, type, status

Caveat: Not all boroughs supply data to the platform, and the detail is less than what you get on the borough portal. Use it as a discovery tool, not a definitive source.

Reading a planning application: key documents

Once you have found an application, you will see a list of documents. These are the most important ones:

How to track applications over time

Most borough portals allow you to subscribe to email alerts for specific applications or for all applications in a ward. The GLA also offers RSS feeds. For a more systematic approach, you can use third-party services such as Planning Hub or the London Data Store’s planning application data, but these are not always up to date.

What to do if you cannot find an application

• Double-check the address – some applications are labelled by a site name or a different street.
• Try the borough’s “weekly list” – a PDF published every Friday listing all new applications.
• Contact the borough’s planning department directly via email or phone. They are required to provide access to the register.
• Search by the applicant’s name if you know it.

Next steps for active involvement

If you find an application that interests you, the most effective way to influence the outcome is to submit a formal comment (sometimes called a “representation”) before the consultation deadline. Borough portals usually have a “comment” or “make a representation” button. The GLA portal also accepts comments on referable applications.

For a deeper understanding of how decisions are made, read the local development plan (the borough’s Local Plan) and the London Plan. These set out the policies against which every application is judged.