What’s happening near you? The free tool that can help you find out
Have you ever discovered that a development has been approved near your home and wished you had known about it sooner? Or arrived at a road closure and wondered when it was announced?
Public notices exist to make sure people have the opportunity to find out about proposals, decisions and changes that could affect their everyday lives.
And if you know where to look, they can help you stay informed about what is happening in your local area.
What are public notices?
Public notices are official announcements made by councils, local authorities, businesses and individuals to inform communities about proposals, decisions and changes.
They are more than just administrative paperwork. Public notices provide a legal safeguard, giving members of the public a fair and timely opportunity to respond where a proposal is open to comment before a decision is made.
Where can you find them?
An easy way to find public notices is through the Public Notice Portal, a free digital platform where you can search for notices by location and category.
You can use the map and search facilities to look for notices in your area and, where available, sign up for alerts so you can keep track of relevant new notices.
Public notices also continue to appear in local newspapers, both in print and online.
Who can publish a notice?
Notices on the portal are submitted by registered local news publishers on behalf of the people or organisations required to publish them.
That could be a solicitor administering a will, a business applying for a licence, or a local council giving notice of a planning application or road closure.
Local news publishers upload the notices that appear in their newspaper titles to the portal, helping bring them together in one place.
Why do public notices matter?
Public notices underpin local democracy by providing transparency and accountability.
They give communities the chance to engage with decisions that could affect them – from a proposed housing development or extension to a change in local licensing or a road closure.
Without public notices, many of these decisions could pass unnoticed by the people most affected.
What types of public notice are covered?
The Public Notice Portal covers a broad range of official announcements, including:
Planning – applications for new buildings, extensions and changes of use. If a developer proposes new homes or another development in your area, you can search for the relevant notice and, where applicable, submit your comments before the deadline.
Traffic and roads – notices covering road closures, diversions, parking changes and alterations to speed limits. You can use the traffic and roads section
to see notices affecting roads in your area.
If you’re heading into Wakefield you can check ahead to see what the drive will be like.
Alcohol and licensing – applications from pubs, restaurants, shops and event organisers to sell alcohol or hold other licensable events. Notices explain how to make representations and the timescale for doing so.
The portal also covers goods vehicle licensing, probate and trustee notices, contracts and tenders, statutory notices and other discretionary notices.
Together, these categories make the Public Notice Portal a single place to find a wide range of official public announcements affecting local communities.
To search for public notices in your area, visit the Public Notice Portal.