Planning applications are available on the web (even if they are hidden behind pages of disclaimers, Terms & Conditions and rate badly in accessibility tests). The problem is finding out whether one in your area will affect you, because if it’s a few streets away you might care about it, but won’t receive a letter telling you about it. Because PlannignAlerts.com just emails you anything near a given postcode it's passive. As a result more people find out what is happening near where they live.

The site doesn't try and replicate what local council websites do already, its just give more people the opportunity to get plugged into their local planning process. When you receive a planning alert email there is a link to the relevant council's website where you can make a comment on that application. From then on in the council will involve you in the consultation.

The site has only been up and running for 2 months and has 1000+ people signed up. It covers 47 local authorities and has sent out thousands of planning alerts to people.

One quick example of use - the old home of the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton was due to be turned into a fast food take away. Some one posted the contents on a planning alert email on a local message board, loads of people commented and the application was changed. Simple.

Nominated by Richard Pope, 24 February 2007

If your neighbour was going to knock their house down, you'd get a letter through the door telling you they had applied for planning permission but you probably never find out if the old cinema or pub 5 streets away is going to be converted into luxury flats

The aim of this to enable shared scrutiny of what is being built (and knocked down) in peoples communities. This website gives you the opportuntity to find out information about your town and gives you the chance to find out what is happening near you.

15 May 2007

I love the idea of this, and have signed up - but as the site says, not all areas are covered.

Unfortunately there seems to be no way of knowing if your area is covered.

Is the danger here that I will be lulled into a false sense of security by not getting notifications, when it could be that there is lots going on around me - but I'm not being notified because I'm in an area not covered?

Submitted by Kevin Whatkins, 05 March 2007

A very simple service that works well if you're in one of the many right areas. Simply brilliant.

Submitted by Shane McCracken, 23 March 2007

Well, it worked a treat for me - I just got a planning alert today for an extension planned four doors down - nothing for me to get het up about, but very very good to know that I'll hear about anything planned nearby.

And in response to the previous commenter - the site tells you upfront if your area isn't covered, and does not let you sign up. There's only a few councils missing...

Submitted by Tom Loosemore, 23 April 2007

The site is great and really simple to use. It's enabled me to see what's going on in my local area really easily and I've even commented on one or two applications :)

Submitted by Nicola, 01 May 2007

Absolutely brilliant - very simple but covers a real problem that exists with planning generally...

Submitted by Rob Blackie, 25 May 2007