About WhatsBuilding
The simplest way to discover what's being planned and built in your neighborhood.
WhatsBuilding makes it easy to find out what's being planned, built, or developed near any UK address. Whether you're buying a house, wondering what's going up next door, or just curious — we've got you covered.
What are planning applications?
In the UK, most building work requires planning permission from the local council. This includes extensions, new houses, loft conversions, change of use applications, and more. These applications are public record, but they can be hard to find and understand. WhatsBuilding collects them and presents them in a simple, searchable, map-first format.
Who is this for?
- Home buyers — check what's planned near a property before you buy
- Homeowners — stay informed about development near your home
- Curious neighbours — find out what that scaffolding is all about
- Property professionals — research planning activity in any area
Free, forever
WhatsBuilding is completely free to use. No hidden fees, no premium tiers, no feature gates. Search as many postcodes as you like and view full application details — all at no cost. Email alerts are coming soon.
Where does the data come from?
Our data comes directly from local council planning portals. Planning application data is public information, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. We currently cover Cambridge City Council, with more councils coming soon.
Coverage
We're starting with Cambridge and expanding across the UK. If you'd like to see your council covered, get in touch at hello@whatsbuilding.co.uk.