First steps
Open the Control Centre and navigate to the Planning Tool.
Quick Filters
These are shown by default and provide five simple filters available for basic searches.
A common quick filter is to switch on or off the 'Only show residential applications' toggle. This will show all planning applications that propose development for 1 or more dwellings.
Advanced Filters
Advanced filters are key to getting the most out of Searchland. There are more options to filter against and more control within each of these options.
Click "Go to advanced filters" for more specific options.
Click "Add Filter" to see the full list of filters available.
Edit filters by clicking the pencil icon, delete by clicking the bin icon.
Applying Filters
Begin by reading through all available filters.
Example search: Approved applications for 5 to 50 dwellings.
Tip: Review the number of results after each filter is applied as this will show you what your filter has achieved in terms of eliminating applications you do not wish to see.
Refining Search Results
Review first 10-20 results to determine search effectiveness.
Use common phrases or patterns to improve results and edit filters accordingly.
Example: Exclude "student accommodation" by Proposal > doesn't contain > student accommodation
Tips
Spend time reading through all available filters, this list is scrollable and there are great appeal filters available at the bottom.
Commonly used filters include proposal type, decision, number of dwellings, application type, dates, and appeals.
Don't forget to save your filters!
Review the first 2 pages of results to determine search effectiveness. If you find there are applications you don't wish to see, edit the filters to target these.
Example: Exclude your results have too many student accommodation applications. You can remove these with the filter Proposal > doesn't contain > "student accommodation"
Explore our library for more resources on mastering queries, searches, and the planning tool.
