What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Planning Portal

Home
United Kingdom
Bristol
Planning Portal

Making planning simple. The national home of planning and building control in England and Wales.

Submit applications, buy site plans, and get expert guidance – all in one place.

📍 Powered by TerraQuest. About Planning Portal

Since 2002, Planning Portal has been the go-to digital service for planning and building control across England and Wales. We make it easier for applicants, agents, and local authorities to access the information and services they need – all in one place. We’re a joint venture between TerraQuest and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, working in partnership with every local authority in England and Wales. Our services include:
Submitting planning and building control applications online

Guidance on planning rules, building regulations, and policy

Compliance support for common home and commercial projects

Interactive tools (house, flat, and shop visualisers)

Local Authority Building Control details

Approved Inspectors directory

We’re committed to delivering a high-quality, accessible service and remain the UK’s national hub for planning and building control.

📢 Interested in advertising with us? Learn more here:
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200203/commercial/123/advertising

29/10/2026

Application Check is now live on Planning Portal.

Around half of all planning applications need further information or amendments during validation.

Our new AI-powered tool reviews your plans and supporting documents before you submit, flags potential issues and gives clear guidance on how to put them right.

✅ Built into the application journey you already use
✅ Runs in the background while you get on with other work
✅ Checks boundary requirements, tags and document types, north arrows, scale bars and file names
✅ Optional. You run it when you choose and decide what to act on

Your expertise, your call. Application Check is there to support your judgement, not replace it.

Read more and give your application a stronger start: https://ow.ly/WLyc51026GV

28/10/2026

SME developers: Five planning policy updates you should know about

Our five part series continues with a closer look at policy changes affecting development viability, delivery and the planning process.

🌿 Part 2: Biodiversity Net Gain
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) became mandatory in February 2024, with further changes introduced in August 2026.

The key updates include:
• An exemption for developments on sites of 0.2 hectares or less, subject to the priority habitat exception.
• Removal of the exemption for self build and custom build developments.
• Equal footing for on site and off site biodiversity gains for minor developments.
• Consultation on certain brownfield residential developments of up to 2.5 hectares.

Research published at the start of 2026 suggested that nearly half of applications submitted by the end of 2025 would have fallen within the proposed exemption, while representing less than 1% of the total area.

Our take
The central challenge is balancing environmental ambition with proportionate implementation.
For smaller developers, BNG requirements can influence site appraisal, design, costs and delivery timelines. Clear guidance, accessible support and practical tools will be important in helping developers understand and meet their obligations.
Understanding BNG requirements at an early stage can help identify potential constraints and avoid unnecessary delays later in the planning process.

📖 Read the full article: https://ow.ly/LwTH5101p0f

Follow us for Part 3, where we look at changes to planning committee decisions for smaller sites.

26/10/2026

👻 WIN A FREE PLANNING GUIDANCE CALL!

Click to enter: https://2ewejt.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2uqA8JsH0SFObx_8VBrns4Q

Thinking about renovating, extending or building your dream home? We’ve got a treat for you! 🏡

We’re giving one lucky winner a FREE Householder Planning Guidance Call worth up to £72, with an experienced Planning Officer.

Get expert advice to help you:
✨ Understand the planning rules and requirements for your project
🏡 Explore local planning policies and potential constraints
💬 Get answers to your general planning questions
📝 Understand the planning application process and how to prepare

We’re now including written call summaries with every Planning Guidance Call! 🎉
We know there’s a lot to take in when starting your project, so we’re making it easier to revisit the key information, understand your next steps, and move forward with confidence.

📅 The winner will be contacted on 2 November 2026.

Good luck! 🍀

23/10/2026

10 ways Planning Portal supports your planning journey (Part Two)

Your planning journey doesn’t stop at finding the right information. It’s about knowing what to do next, accessing the right resources and feeling confident as you move forward.

From exploring planning guidance and interactive tools to accessing application support and building regulations information, Planning Portal offers more ways to help you navigate the process.

Ready to discover more?

Visit our website today to explore the information, guidance and tools available to support your planning journey: www.planningportal.co.uk

21/10/2026

You asked. We listened. 💬

We’re now including written call summaries with every Planning Guidance Call! 🎉

We know there’s a lot to take in when starting your project, so we’re making it easier to revisit the key information, understand your next steps, and move forward with confidence.

📅 Book your Planning Guidance Call today: https://ow.ly/2sjj50ZZgEW

19/10/2026

SME developers: Five planning policy updates you should know about

Planning reform is moving forward, with a number of policy changes that could influence how SME developers approach land, planning and delivery.

In this five-part series, we explore key updates and what they could mean for developers in practice.

🏗️ Part 1: The new medium development tier

The updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) increases the site area threshold for medium sites from 1 hectare to 2.5 hectares, covering developments of 10 to 49 homes.
The change recognises that sites of different scales can face very different planning requirements, despite being assessed through similar processes.

Our take

This could help create a more proportionate approach to planning, particularly where requirements do not reflect the scale or complexity of a proposed scheme.
However, the impact will depend on how the changes are implemented locally, including the capacity, staffing and resources available within local planning authorities.
For SME developers, early engagement with the relevant planning authority will remain important to understand how the changes will apply to individual schemes.

📖 Read the article: https://www.terraquest.co.uk/news-and-insights/policy-updates-sme-developers-should-know-about

Follow us for Part 2, where we explore changes to Biodiversity Net Gain and their implications for smaller developments.

16/10/2026

How can we make the planning journey simpler and more connected for developers?

At UK Construction Week, we caught up with Chantelle Hallett, Head of Product Management at TerraQuest, to explore the challenges developers face during the early planning stages, why addressing them early matters, and how Planning Portal can help improve the journey.

From tackling friction in the process to creating a more connected journey from land identification to planning submission, watch Chantelle share her perspective ▶️

15/10/2026

More than a portal. More ways forward.

10 ways Planning Portal supports your planning journey (Part One)

Planning is about more than submitting an application. It’s about knowing where to start, finding the right information, preparing with confidence and understanding the steps along the way.

We support more of that journey by bringing together information, guidance and tools to help you navigate the planning process.

Stay tuned for Part Two, where we’ll explore even more ways Planning Portal can support your planning journey.

12/10/2026

Coming soon: Application Check. 👀

A little something to help spot potential issues on your planning application journey. Stay tuned.

08/10/2026

Missed our UKCW panel? Here are three things you need to know.

We joined industry experts at UK Construction Week to explore how getting the early planning journey right can help support better development decisions and improve viability. One thing was clear: viable development starts long before a planning application is submitted.

Three key takeaways stood out:

1. Find the right land early
Identifying a site is only the beginning. Understanding its planning credentials, physical constraints and development potential early can help prevent costly mistakes later – particularly when rising costs and competitive land values are putting pressure on viability.

2. Better data, better decisions
Developers need access to reliable information about constraints, local requirements and planning policy before committing significant time and money to a site. Better, more accessible planning data can reduce uncertainty and support more informed decisions.

3. Get applications right first time
Incomplete applications can create avoidable delays. Understanding local validation requirements, technical information and potential obligations such as Section 106 and CIL before submission can help applications move through the system more efficiently.

Address

Bristol

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Planning Portal posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.