Planning, in the open
We read a lot of planning policy and a lot of planning decisions. Now and then we turn that into something worth sharing - data-led looks at how the system actually behaves, free for anyone to use.
Where the presumption in favour of development applies
It used to be one answer per council. Now it turns on the settlement edge: inside one the presumption is unconditional, outside it depends on the delivery figures. New figures the same afternoon pushed 40 more districts into the failing band. See what changed, and where.
The new NPPF: what actually changed for decision-taking
The August 2026 Framework re-routed the presumption by location, deleted the vocabulary agents use daily and took effect with no transition. The headlines, a concordance for the citations you rely on, and ten points the briefings will miss.
Councils are losing 4 in 5 battery storage appeals
Inspectors have decided 67 standalone battery storage appeals in England; councils lost 53. The letters show inspectors finding the harm and approving the schemes anyway - and Green Belt refusals fare worst of all.
The planning appeal postcode lottery
Nearly a third of refused applications taken to appeal are overturned by the Planning Inspectorate - but the odds swing more than threefold depending on which council refused you. Explore the interactive map of all 284 ranked councils and find yours in the league table.
Free planning tools
Instant, no-signup checkers built from the same rule sets and open data our assessments use.
BNG calculator
Does biodiversity net gain apply to your site? Exemption verdicts under the rules in force 6 August 2026, Small Sites Metric scope, and a rough worst-case cost of the units.
Check your site ->Nutrient neutrality calculator
Check any UK postcode against the live NRW and Natural England phosphate and nitrogen catchment boundaries, with an indicative wastewater load estimate.
Check a postcode ->Planning permission, explained
Plain-English guides to how UK planning permission works, grounded in the actual legislation and national policy - not generic advice.
How long does planning permission last
The 3-year implementation period, the 8/13/16-week decision targets, discharge of conditions, and what happens if a permission lapses.
Read ->Lawful development certificates
The 4-year and 10-year rules, LDC existing vs proposed, and how to certify that a use or works are lawful - for sale or refinance certainty.
Read ->Retrospective planning permission
Applying for permission after the works are done, the enforcement time limits, and when a lawful development certificate is the better route.
Read ->Class Q: agricultural buildings to dwellings
The England-only prior-approval route to convert an agricultural building, the current cumulative limits, and how Wales differs.
Read ->Outline vs full planning permission
When to apply for outline consent and when to go straight to full, the reserved matters, and the cost and time trade-offs.
Read ->Material considerations
What counts as a material consideration, the section 38(6) starting point, the weight each carries, and the NPPF presumption at policies S3, S4 and S5.
Read ->Pre-application advice
What a council pre-app gives you, what it costs, what to bring, and when it is worth it - and when it is not.
Read ->The Use Classes Order
How land uses are classed, when a change of use needs permission, and the England (Class E) versus Wales split.
Read ->Built on reading the policy, not guessing.
GapSense reviews your draft application against the local plan and the national framework that will decide it, and flags the refusal risks before you file.