Frequently Asked Questions

What is Build Support?

Build Support monitors planning portals across hundreds of local authorities in Great Britain, pulling in new applications, decisions, and documents automatically. It makes this data searchable so you can find, understand, and comment on proposals that matter to you.

Why don't I see every application?

We collect thousands of applications, but the main views focus on those with the most impact:

• New homes: Proposals creating one or more new dwellings.
• Major developments: Schemes proposing 100+ new homes.
• Decisions: Applications recently granted or refused.

Smaller applications like tree works, minor extensions, or discharge of conditions are stored in our database but filtered from the main views to reduce noise.

How accurate is the Planning Atlas?

The Atlas reflects live data from our scrapers. Coverage depends on:

• Scraper status: Whether the scraper for a particular council is active and healthy.
• Data availability: Some councils publish data with delays or in formats that are harder to parse.
• Filtering: A council showing low activity on the map may simply have few major or housing applications recently.

Can I search for a specific application?

Yes. Use the search page or the search bar in the navigation header. You can search by address, postcode, or planning reference number.

How can I get involved?

Build Support is an open project. You can help by:

• Reporting bugs or suggesting improvements.
• Helping write adapters for councils we don't yet cover.
• Supporting hosting and development costs.