How to Use This Website
Use this website as a practical planning research guide, then verify final actions on official UK planning and council sources.
Research guideOfficial next stepsPlanning safetyCouncil verification
How to Use This Website
ukplanningportal.org/ is designed as a research and navigation guide. Use our pages to understand the planning task, prepare questions, identify the correct official source, and avoid common mistakes before visiting the official Planning Portal, GOV.UK, or a local authority website.
Safe Planning Research Workflow
Identify the property location: Planning authority depends on the property location and council area. Boundaries matter.
Identify the task: Decide if you are checking permission, searching an application, applying, commenting, appealing, or researching building control.
Read the guide: Use our page to understand likely documents, departments, and warnings.
Open the official source: Complete account-specific or property-specific action only on the official council, GOV.UK, or Planning Portal website.
Save proof: Keep application references, receipts, email acknowledgements, decision notices, appeal documents, and screenshots where relevant.
Use Our Site For
- Understanding planning permission basics.
- Learning the difference between planning permission and building regulations.
- Finding likely official routes for planning search, applications, comments, and appeals.
- Preparing questions before contacting a local planning authority.
- Understanding why maps, addresses, constraints, and property context matter.
Do Not Use Our Site For
- Final legal confirmation that work is permitted.
- Submitting or paying for a planning application.
- Replacing pre-application advice from a council or professional.
- Ignoring official enforcement notices or appeal deadlines.
- Making decisions on listed building, conservation, party wall, lease, or land ownership matters without proper advice.
Common User Mistakes
- Assuming permitted development rights apply without checking restrictions.
- Confusing planning permission with building regulations approval.
- Using an old council planning portal link after the website has changed.
- Missing a consultation or appeal deadline because the official notice was not checked.
- Relying on a neighbour or forum answer instead of the local planning authority.