# UK Planning Applications Scraper (`veluxwindow/uk-planning-applications-scraper`) Actor Scrape planning applications from 400+ UK council portals. Get reference numbers, addresses, proposals, decisions, dates, applicants, agents and more. Covers Idox, Northgate and other portal systems. - **URL**: https://apify.com/veluxwindow/uk-planning-applications-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Cass](https://apify.com/veluxwindow) (community) - **Categories:** Lead generation, Automation, Other - **Stats:** 2 total users, 0 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $100.00 / 1,000 results This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## UK Planning Applications Scraper Scrape planning applications from **20+ UK council portals** in one run. Get reference numbers, addresses, proposals, decisions, dates, applicants, agents and more — structured and ready to use. Perfect for **property developers** finding sites, **builders** finding leads, **estate agents** tracking local activity, **investors** monitoring planning decisions, and **PropTech developers** building on UK planning data. ### Key Features - Covers **20 major UK councils** (expanding to 400+) including Cornwall, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol, Westminster, Tower Hamlets and more - Extracts **15+ data fields** per application: reference, address, description, type, status, decision, dates, applicant, agent, ward, case officer - **Filter by date range, keyword, region, or specific council** - Outputs clean **JSON, CSV, or Excel** — ready for analysis or integration - Handles Idox Public Access portals (70%+ of UK councils) - Respectful scraping with configurable delays (default 2 seconds between requests) - **Pay per result** — only pay for applications actually scraped ### Use Cases - **Construction lead generation**: Find homeowners who just got planning permission for extensions, loft conversions, or new builds in your area - **Site sourcing for developers**: Monitor new applications and approvals for residential development opportunities - **Property investment research**: Track planning activity near properties you own or are considering buying - **Market intelligence**: Understand development patterns, approval rates, and what's being built where - **PropTech data feeds**: Power your own products with structured UK planning data via Apify API ### Sample Output ```json { "reference": "24/01234/FUL", "council": "Cornwall Council", "council_code": "E06000052", "address": "Land Adjacent To 15 Trelawney Road, Truro, TR1 1AB", "description": "Construction of 4 no. dwellings with associated access and landscaping", "application_type": "Full Planning Permission", "status": "Decided", "decision": "Approved with Conditions", "decision_date": "2026-04-15", "received_date": "2026-02-10", "validated_date": "2026-02-14", "consultation_end_date": "2026-03-08", "applicant_name": "ABC Developments Ltd", "agent_name": "Smith & Partners Architects", "ward": "Truro Boscawen and Redannick", "case_officer": "J. Williams", "url": "https://planning.cornwall.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=ABC123", "portal_type": "idox", "scraped_at": "2026-05-18T14:30:00Z" } ```` ### Supported Councils Currently covering the **top 20 UK councils by planning application volume**: Cornwall, Leeds, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire, Durham, Manchester, Bristol, Sheffield, Bradford, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Westminster, Lambeth, Brighton & Hove, Barnet, Croydon, Bromley, East Suffolk, Nottingham, Liverpool More councils being added regularly. Request specific councils via the Issues tab. ### How to Use 1. Click **Start** with the default settings to scrape the last 7 days from all supported councils (limited to 20 results for a quick test) 2. Adjust the **date range** to cover the period you need 3. Filter by **council name** or **region** to target specific areas 4. Use the **keyword** field to search for specific development types (e.g. "extension", "solar", "change of use") 5. Increase **Max Results** when you're ready to scrape at scale ### Pricing This actor uses **pay-per-event** pricing. You are charged per planning application scraped. Only successful results are charged — failed scrapes are free. ### Input Parameters | Parameter | Description | Default | |-----------|-------------|---------| | councils | Specific councils to scrape (leave empty for all) | All | | regions | Filter by UK region | All | | dateFrom | Start date (DD/MM/YYYY) | 7 days ago | | dateTo | End date (DD/MM/YYYY) | Today | | keyword | Search in application descriptions | None | | maxResults | Total result limit | 100 | | maxResultsPerCouncil | Per-council limit | 50 | ### FAQ **How often should I run this?** Most councils publish weekly lists of new applications. Running weekly gives you comprehensive coverage. Running daily catches status updates on existing applications. **Is this legal?** Yes. UK planning application data is public information published under the Open Government Licence. Council portals are designed for public access. **Can I get data from a council not on the list?** We're expanding coverage regularly. Open an issue on the Issues tab with the council you need. **What portal systems are supported?** Currently Idox Public Access (covering ~70% of UK councils). Northgate and other systems coming soon. **How do I integrate this with my own tools?** Use the Apify API to trigger runs programmatically and retrieve results as JSON. See the [Apify API documentation](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2). # Actor input Schema ## `councils` (type: `array`): Select specific councils to scrape. Leave empty to scrape all 20 supported councils. ## `regions` (type: `array`): Filter by region (comma-separated). E.g. 'London' or 'South West'. Leave empty for all. ## `dateFrom` (type: `string`): Only return applications received on or after this date (DD/MM/YYYY). Defaults to 7 days ago. ## `dateTo` (type: `string`): Only return applications received on or before this date (DD/MM/YYYY). Defaults to today. ## `keyword` (type: `string`): Search in application descriptions. E.g. 'extension', 'demolition', 'solar panels', 'change of use'. ## `maxResults` (type: `integer`): Maximum total applications to return across all councils. ## `maxResultsPerCouncil` (type: `integer`): Maximum applications per individual council. ## `maxConcurrency` (type: `integer`): Maximum parallel browser pages. Lower = more polite to council servers. ## `requestDelayMs` (type: `integer`): Minimum delay between requests to council servers. Be respectful to public services. ## Actor input object example ```json { "councils": [], "regions": [], "maxResults": 20, "maxResultsPerCouncil": 10, "maxConcurrency": 2, "requestDelayMs": 2000 } ``` # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "dateFrom": "", "dateTo": "", "keyword": "", "maxResults": 20, "maxResultsPerCouncil": 10 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("veluxwindow/uk-planning-applications-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "dateFrom": "", "dateTo": "", "keyword": "", "maxResults": 20, "maxResultsPerCouncil": 10, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("veluxwindow/uk-planning-applications-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "dateFrom": "", "dateTo": "", "keyword": "", "maxResults": 20, "maxResultsPerCouncil": 10 }' | apify call veluxwindow/uk-planning-applications-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=veluxwindow/uk-planning-applications-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "UK Planning Applications Scraper", "description": "Scrape planning applications from 400+ UK council portals. Get reference numbers, addresses, proposals, decisions, dates, applicants, agents and more. Covers Idox, Northgate and other portal systems.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "V1w2o5ZEPjXfGAIvo" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/veluxwindow~uk-planning-applications-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-veluxwindow-uk-planning-applications-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/veluxwindow~uk-planning-applications-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-veluxwindow-uk-planning-applications-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/veluxwindow~uk-planning-applications-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-veluxwindow-uk-planning-applications-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "councils": { "title": "Councils", "type": "array", "description": "Select specific councils to scrape. Leave empty to scrape all 20 supported councils.", "items": { "type": "string" }, "default": [] }, "regions": { "title": "Regions", "type": "array", "description": "Filter by region (comma-separated). E.g. 'London' or 'South West'. Leave empty for all.", "items": { "type": "string" }, "default": [] }, "dateFrom": { "title": "Date From", "type": "string", "description": "Only return applications received on or after this date (DD/MM/YYYY). Defaults to 7 days ago." }, "dateTo": { "title": "Date To", "type": "string", "description": "Only return applications received on or before this date (DD/MM/YYYY). Defaults to today." }, "keyword": { "title": "Keyword Search", "type": "string", "description": "Search in application descriptions. E.g. 'extension', 'demolition', 'solar panels', 'change of use'." }, "maxResults": { "title": "Max Results", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 10000, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum total applications to return across all councils.", "default": 100 }, "maxResultsPerCouncil": { "title": "Max Results Per Council", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 1000, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum applications per individual council.", "default": 50 }, "maxConcurrency": { "title": "Max Concurrency", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 5, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum parallel browser pages. Lower = more polite to council servers.", "default": 2 }, "requestDelayMs": { "title": "Request Delay (ms)", "minimum": 1000, "maximum": 10000, "type": "integer", "description": "Minimum delay between requests to council servers. Be respectful to public services.", "default": 2000 } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```