Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council planning applications
Data as of 5 November 2026
Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council decided more than 1,700 planning applications in the twelve months to 5 November 2026. It refused 22% of those it approved or refused, higher than the middle UK council (9%), and took a median of 56 days to decide one.
Look up one application
Search by reference or address on Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council’s own planning portal. Or ask Claude, with the PlanningLedger connector, to find it and read its officer report and decision notice (mcp.planningledger.com).
Recent major decisions
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23 October 2026 · Refused
PRIOR APPROVAL APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF USE FROM VACANT FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR TO 24 NO. APARTMENTS
26 Deansgate Bolton BL1 1BG · 01593/26
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16 September 2026 · Refused
135 - 139 Bradshawgate Bolton BL2 1BJ · 01454/26
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10 July 2026 · Approved
Former Harrowby Training Centre Mill Street Bolton BL4 7BH · 19154/24
Figures for Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
| Applications decided | more than 1,700 |
|---|---|
| Share refusedof those approved or refused | 22%middle UK council 9% |
| Median time to a decisionfrom the valid date | 56 daysmiddle UK council 55 days |
| Householder applications refusedextensions, lofts, outbuildings | Not enough typed decisions |
| Appeals decidedin the last three years | more than 150 |
| Appeals allowedof those decided on their merits | 22%about one in four |
| Officer reports and decision notices searchable | back to 2017 |
| Local Plan policies held | 43plan adopted 2011 |
What inspectors decide appeals on
In their own words, from recent appeal decisions on Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council’s planning applications.
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“The main issues are: • the effect of the proposed development on highway safety; • whether the proposed development would provide an equivalent or better provision of recreational land than what is currently provided; and • the effect of the…”
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“The main issues are: • whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the revised Framework and any relevant development plan policies; • the effect of the proposal on highway safety; and • the…”
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“The main issue is the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area.”
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“The main issue is the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area.”
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“I consider the main issues in this appeal are: whether the development would constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt; the effect of the development upon the openness of the Green Belt; the effect of the development on the character…”
How we count, and what each figure leaves out: methodology. The council’s own register is the record, and each application links to it.