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How to view planning applications and their boundaries
How to view planning applications and their boundaries

Understand what all the information within the layer means, and how to use it

Calum Shepherd avatar
Written by Calum Shepherd
Updated over a week ago

Access planning applications within the planning application layer.

When you're in the planning layer and your zoom is set to the correct level, you'll see coloured dots displayed on the map. This helps you get an overview of the planning activity in any given area.

What do the dots mean?

Each dot represents a planning application for one or more properties. The information comes from planning applications submitted to councils.

These dots represent residential (red), commercial (purple), mixed use (a gradient of red and purple), and other (blue).

Residential applications are for properties where people live, commercial being for shops, offices and the like, mixed use for a combination of both, and other for institutions.

TIP: You can view a full description for each hovering over these classifications in the filter panel.


What do the size of the dots mean?

  • The darker the dot, the more recent the application (excludes other applications)

  • The more homes the development has, the larger the dot (residential)

  • Whether we think the application is noteworthy or not (commercial)

What is the green radius when selecting dots?

When you select a dot, you are actually selecting a point on the map - as dots can overlap. We'll return all the planning applications that exist within a radius of your selection (the green radius) - making sure you get what you need.

How do the filters work?

You can filter planning applications based upon the classifications (eg. residential, commercial etc). You can also filter applications using the age of the application, the number of homes (default 1 and above), and the type of the application.

TIP: the minor commercial filter will filter out commercial applications for things like shop fronts, tables, chairs etc - helping to clear up the map for you.

What packages are the filters available on?

The application age and number of homes filters are available on Starter, Pro and Unlimited packages. The type filters are available to people on the Pro and Unlimited packages. Find out more about the different LandInsight packages.

How accurate are the filters?

We are always improving the quality of the classifications and filters. If something isn't showing up under the correct filter, we hope it will be for you in the near future - watch this space!

How can I view planning application boundaries?

You can view planning boundaries on an application by application basis.

Navigate to an area of interest within the planning application layer, then select an area on the map where planning applications are located. You'll then see the planning application list on the right, and applications with boundaries will show an icon.

Select the planning application with the icon. You'll then see the boundary for that specific application appear on the map.

TIP: We support planning application boundaries for selected planning authorities. Read more about the data we have on boundaries in our article on where planning application data comes from.

How often is your data updated?

Planning application coverage is different from the coverage we have of planning application boundaries. Read more about planning application data coverage.

You may be interested in:

How do I search for planning applications?

How do I set automated planning alerts?

Learn more about how to setup automated planning alerts.

Where does planning data come from and how regularly it is updated?

Learn more about where our planning data comes from, and when it is updated.

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