St Albans City and District Council planning applications
Data as of 5 November 2026
St Albans City and District Council decided more than 2,500 planning applications in the twelve months to 5 November 2026. It refused 13% of those it approved or refused, higher than the middle UK council (9%), and took a median of 61 days to decide one.
Look up one application
Search by reference or address on St Albans City and District 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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7 October 2026 · Refused
Moor Mill Tanker Depot Smug Oak Lane Bricket Wood Hertfordshire Al2 3Tz · 5/2026/0102
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3 August 2026 · Approved
Land To South Of Codicote Road And Cory-Wright Way Wheathampstead Hertfordshire · 5/2024/1508
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23 July 2026 · Approved
Land Between The White Barn And 42 Tollgate Road Colney Heath St Albans Hertfordshire · 5/2024/2007
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20 July 2026 · Refused
Unit 1 Riverside Industrial Estate London Colney Bypass London Colney Hertfordshire Al2 1Hj · 5/2026/1178
Figures for St Albans City and District Council
| Applications decided | more than 2,500 |
|---|---|
| Share refusedof those approved or refused | 13%middle UK council 9% |
| Median time to a decisionfrom the valid date | 61 daysmiddle UK council 55 days |
| Householder applications refusedextensions, lofts, outbuildings | 12%of more than 840 decided |
| Appeals decidedin the last three years | more than 240 |
| Appeals allowedof those decided on their merits | 33%about one in three |
| Officer reports and decision notices searchable | back to 2026 |
| Local Plan policies held | more than 280 |
What inspectors decide appeals on
In their own words, from recent appeal decisions on St Albans City and District 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 surrounding area.”
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“The main issues are: • whether the proposal would represent inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant Development Plan policies; • the effect of the proposed development on the landscape character of the…”
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“The main issues are: • Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt; • The effect of the proposal on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt; • The effect of the development on the character…”
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“The main issues are: • Whether the appeal scheme would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt; • The effect of the proposed development on the openness of the Green Belt, and the purposes of including land in it; •…”
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“The main issue for both appeals is the effect of the proposal on the special interest of the Grade II listed building known as Astridge Farmhouse. 5. The main issues for Appeal A only are: (a) whether the proposal would…”
How we count, and what each figure leaves out: methodology. The council’s own register is the record, and each application links to it.