Southend-on-Sea Borough Council planning applications
Data as of 5 November 2026
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council decided more than 1,400 planning applications in the twelve months to 5 November 2026. It refused 16% 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 Southend-on-Sea 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 September 2026 · Approved
43 Progress Road Eastwood Essex SS9 5PR · 26/00898/FUL
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20 August 2026 · Approved
Thamesgate House 33 - 41 Victoria Avenue Southend-on-sea Essex · 26/00370/PA64
Figures for Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
| Applications decided | more than 1,400 |
|---|---|
| Share refusedof those approved or refused | 16%middle UK council 9% |
| Median time to a decisionfrom the valid date | 56 daysmiddle UK council 55 days |
| Householder applications refusedextensions, lofts, outbuildings | 6%of more than 380 decided |
| Appeals decidedin the last three years | 220 |
| Appeals allowedof those decided on their merits | 34%about one in three |
| Officer reports and decision notices searchable | back to 2023 |
| Local Plan policies held | 39plan adopted 2015 |
What inspectors decide appeals on
In their own words, from recent appeal decisions on Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s planning applications.
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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 issues in this appeal are: • the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area; • the effect of the proposed development on the integrity of European sites; and • whether the proposed…”
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“The Council has stated that the appellant has paid directly to them a sum of money towards measures to mitigate any adverse impacts of the development on the Benfleet and Southend Marshes Special Protection Area, Special Conservation Area, Site of…”
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“The main issues are: • whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt for the purposes of the development plan and the National Planning Policy Framework (the Framework) including the effect upon the openness of the Green…”
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“The main issues are: • The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the host property and area. • Whether the proposed development would affect the integrity of a protected European site of nature conservation importance…”
How we count, and what each figure leaves out: methodology. The council’s own register is the record, and each application links to it.