Questions and answers

The Reading Room

What is the Reading Room?: You type a question about London planning decisions in plain English, and we email you a research memo: a summary, the answer case by case, the evidence it relies on, what it covered and what it couldn’t answer. Where a reference has an online record, it links to the council’s or the Planning Inspectorate’s own page.
Is it free?: Yes, during the limited release. If we ever charge, we’ll tell you before anything changes, and answers you already have stay yours. Free during the limited release · London only · limits apply
Who sees my question?: We never publish or sell questions. Only PlanningLedger, people working for us under a confidentiality agreement, and the services that produce the answer see them. Please leave out client names and anything confidential. See the privacy notice.
How long does an answer take?: About 10 minutes, sometimes longer when many questions arrive together. We email you when it’s ready.
What won’t it answer?: It won’t predict whether a particular scheme will be approved, and it isn’t legal, viability or structural advice. It covers London only. Some subjects are thin in the record today, such as section 106 agreements and viability, and each memo says what it couldn’t answer.

What is the address check?: A free summary of 12 planning constraints for a London address: flood zones, conservation areas, listed buildings, Article 4 directions and more. No sign-up is needed. Check an address.
Which areas are covered?: London: the 32 boroughs and the City of London. The data comes from official sources including the Environment Agency, Historic England, Ordnance Survey, HM Land Registry and the councils themselves.
I bought a report. How do I find it?: Go to My reports and enter your email address; we send you a sign-in link, with no password. Every report also has a link you can share.
Is this a formal planning assessment?: No. Everything here is for information only and no substitute for professional planning advice. Check anything you rely on with the council.
How is my data handled?: We don’t store raw IP addresses, only one-way hashes. Email addresses are stored only when you give them to us, and marketing emails need separate consent. See the privacy notice.

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