Planning guides
A clearer path through planning.
Practical explanations of constraints, official sources and the questions to ask before you extend, buy or build. Most guides cover England. Where Wales or Scotland differ, the guide says so.
Featured guide · planning-policy
How to check if your property has an Article 4 direction
Three ways to find out whether an Article 4 direction applies to your property, which permitted development rights it removes, whether you pay a fee to apply, and why a blank map does not prove there is none.
20 guides
7 free open data sources to check planning constraints in England
A guide to the best free government open data sources for checking planning constraints on any site in England, what each one covers and where each one has gaps.
Read guide →6 government websites every property developer should bookmark
The essential free government data websites for checking planning constraints, environmental designations, flood risk and heritage status on development sites in England.
Read guide →10 things open planning data can tell you before you buy a property
What free government open data can reveal about a property in England before you make an offer, from flood risk and heritage designations to green belt and ecological constraints, and where the data runs out.
Read guide →8 planning constraints that could block your extension
The most common planning constraints that affect home extensions in England, what each one means, and how to check whether they apply to your property before you pay for drawings.
Read guide →5 planning constraints you can check online for free right now
The five most common planning constraints that affect property in England and how to check each one with free official sources, with no sign-up, plus what the free sources do not tell you.
Read guide →How to find planning constraints for any property in England, Wales or Scotland
A step-by-step guide to checking planning constraints before buying land, extending a home or starting a development, with the official sources for each nation and what to ask the council.
Read guide →What is a conservation area? A complete guide
Read guide →Flood zones explained: Flood Zones 1, 2 and 3 in England, and how Wales and Scotland differ
What Flood Zones 1, 2 and 3 mean in England, how they affect planning permission, insurance and flood risk assessments, and why Wales and Scotland use different flood maps and different terms.
Read guide →Listed building grades: what I, II* and II mean for planning
A guide to the three grades of listed building in England (Grade I, Grade II* and Grade II), what the grades mean, and how listing affects what you can do with a property.
Read guide →Green belt land: what it means for planning permission
What is green belt land in England, how does it affect planning permission, what is "grey belt", and what are the exceptions? A practical guide under the National Planning Policy Framework published on 17 August 2026.
Read guide →How to check if a property is in a conservation area
Three quick ways to find out whether a house or piece of land falls within a conservation area in England, and what it means for your plans, your trees and your permitted development rights.
Read guide →How to find out if your house is in a flood zone (England)
Three ways to check whether your property is in Flood Zone 2 or 3 in England, what the flood zones mean, and how they affect insurance, mortgages and planning. Wales and Scotland use different maps.
Read guide →How to check if a building is listed
Three ways to find out whether a house or building is listed in England, what the grades mean, and what you need to know before making any changes.
Read guide →How to find out if land is green belt
Three ways to check whether a property or piece of land is in the green belt in England, and what the designation means for extensions, replacements and planning permission.
Read guide →How to check for tree preservation orders on your property
Three ways to find out whether any trees on or near your property in England are protected by a tree preservation order, and what that means for garden work and building plans.
Read guide →How to find out if you're in a National Landscape (formerly an AONB)
Three ways to check whether your property is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, now branded a National Landscape, and how the designation affects planning permission and permitted development.
Read guide →How to check if your property has an Article 4 direction
Three ways to find out whether an Article 4 direction applies to your property, which permitted development rights it removes, whether you pay a fee to apply, and why a blank map does not prove there is none.
Read guide →How to find out if you live near a scheduled monument
Three ways to check for scheduled monuments near your property in England, what scheduling means, and how it affects development in the surrounding area.
Read guide →How to check if your property is near a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Three ways to find out whether a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is near your property, what owners and occupiers must do before work on one, and how it affects planning.
Read guide →How to find planning constraints before buying a house
A practical guide to checking planning constraints before you make an offer, so you know what restrictions apply and avoid costly surprises. Written for buyers in England, with notes for Wales and Scotland.
Read guide →Can you extend? Check the rules on your street.
Check a site free for your council, conservation area status and a basic flood check. The site report (£9.99, one-off) adds everything else we can check within 500 m of your pin, for 30 days.