Discovering whether a property has had planning permissions granted in the past, and if so what conditions were attached, is important when buying a property, investigating the history of existing extensions or outbuildings, or assessing what further development might be possible. Planning records are public and searchable, and several routes are available to access them.

The Local Authority Planning Portal

The local planning authority is the primary repository of planning records for properties within its area. Most councils publish their planning application records online through their public planning portal or search system. You can search by address or by map to find all planning applications and decisions relating to a specific property. Results typically show the application reference number, description, date, and decision.

The level of historical data available online varies between councils. Some authorities have digitised records going back to the 1990s or earlier; others have fewer years of records online. Very old permissions from the 1960s or 1970s may only be accessible by visiting the council's offices or making a formal request under the Environmental Information Regulations.

Local Land Charges Search

A local land charges search, which is part of the conveyancing searches carried out when buying a property, reveals conditional planning permissions, enforcement notices, and other planning matters registered against the land. If you want a comprehensive check rather than a search of publicly available records, a formal local land charges search through the council or a personal search company provides this.

The Land Registry Title Register

The title register held at HM Land Registry sometimes references planning conditions, particularly where a restriction has been registered against the title to ensure compliance with a planning condition, such as a requirement to construct only in accordance with approved plans. Official copies of the title register can be obtained from the Land Registry website for a few pounds and are accessible to anyone.

Environmental Information Regulations Request

If the information you need is not available online, submitting an Environmental Information Regulations request to the local planning authority obliges them to provide the information, including historical planning records, within 20 working days. This route is useful for older records that have not been digitised and are only held on paper files.

Summary

Old planning permissions are searchable through the local authority's online planning portal. Local land charges searches provide formal confirmation of registered planning matters. The Land Registry title register may reference planning conditions. Environmental Information Regulations requests can access older records not available online. Planning permission records do not confirm that development was built as approved; Building Control completion certificates provide that additional confirmation.