Uses official open data for England (planning.data.gov.uk). No signup required.
Planning constraints checker — official designations near you
Conservation areas, listed buildings, flood zones, green belt, Article 4 directions, and other designations shape how councils judge development. Knowing what applies near a postcode helps you understand why an application may face extra scrutiny — or why harm to setting could support an objection.
This checker queries planning.data.gov.uk and related open datasets for England. Each result includes a plain-English note on what the designation may mean if you are commenting on a nearby proposal.
How it works
- Enter a UK postcode. We resolve it to a map point.
- Official open datasets are queried for designations within range of that point.
- Results list each constraint type with a short explanation of planning relevance.
- Follow links to source data or your council hub for full boundary maps and policy documents.
How constraints help your objection
Being in a conservation area does not let you object to every nearby proposal — but harm to character, setting, or listed-building context can be material when a specific application is before the council.
If a neighbour's scheme affects a listed building's setting, flood risk, or protected landscape, cite the designation and link your facts to adopted local plan policies and the NPPF where relevant.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this planning constraints checker free?
- Yes. Enter a UK postcode and see designations from official open data. No account or payment is required.
- Which constraints do you check?
- Conservation areas, listed buildings, flood risk zones, green belt, Article 4 direction areas, tree preservation zones, SSSIs, AONBs, scheduled monuments, and ancient woodland — sourced from planning.data.gov.uk where published.
- Does it cover Wales?
- This tool uses planning.data.gov.uk, which primarily covers England. Welsh designations may not appear — confirm on your local planning authority website.
- Can I object because my home is in a conservation area?
- Being in a conservation area does not automatically let you object to every nearby proposal — but harm to character and setting can be a material consideration when a specific application is before the council.
- How is this different from planningconstraints.com?
- Dedicated constraint sites often include maps and PDF exports across 30+ layers. Planning Guard focuses on designations that commonly matter in neighbour objections and links you to our free scan and letter workflow.
- Is this legal or planning advice?
- No. It is a research tool using open data. Confirm boundaries on official maps and seek professional advice for complex sites.
- What should I do if a constraint applies to a live application?
- Read the validated plans on the portal, cite the designation and relevant policy, and explain the harm in planning terms. Start with our free material-grounds scan if you are unsure what counts.