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Conwy Planning Applications: A 2026 Guide for North Wales

Bhavesh Ramburn

Conwy planning applications: which authority handles yours?

If you are searching for a planning application in Conwy (the walled town), Llandudno, Colwyn Bay, Abergele, Llanrwst, Betws-y-Coed, Llandudno Junction, Deganwy, Penmaenmawr, Llanfairfechan, or any of the villages and rural areas of the Conwy county borough, the responsible Local Planning Authority (LPA) is Conwy County Borough Council (Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy). The county borough is one of the principal areas of North Wales and operates its own planning service.

The planning service can be accessed via the Conwy CBC planning service page. Application search, application submission, and pre-application advice are linked from there.

Note: Conwy is a bilingual authority. The planning service is delivered in English and Welsh.

How the Welsh planning system applies in Conwy

Conwy is in Wales, where planning is a devolved matter. The statutory framework is set out in:

  • The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 — which applies to England and Wales but is implemented separately in Wales.
  • The Planning (Wales) Act 2015 — the principal Welsh-specific planning statute.
  • The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Wales) Order 2012 (as amended) — the Welsh equivalent of the English GPDO 2015, with different class numbers and limits.
  • Future Wales: The National Plan 2040 — the Welsh national planning framework.
  • The Conwy Local Development Plan (LDP) 2007–2022 — currently being replaced by the LDP2 (2018–2033) which is at examination stage.

The Welsh Government Planning Division is responsible for national planning policy in Wales. The Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) handles appeals and called-in applications in Wales.

The Snowdonia National Park (now renamed Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri) covers a large part of the Conwy county borough, including the Carneddau mountains, the Glyderau, the Moelwynion, and the valleys around Betws-y-Coed. Properties within the National Park boundary are decided by the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park Authority, not Conwy CBC.

For the broader PD framework, see our guide on Permitted Development Rights in 2026 — note that the English and Welsh PD regimes differ in important ways.

How to view or comment on a current Conwy planning application

Public access to the live application register is a statutory right under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as applied in Wales) and the Planning (Wales) Act 2015. Conwy operates a public-access planning register that lists all live and decided cases. The register is accessible via the Welsh Government planning register or the Conwy CBC planning service page.

You can also use the Planning Portal for national searches. Members of the public have at least 21 days from the date an application is advertised (site notice and/or neighbour letter) to submit written comments. Comments must relate to material planning considerations — impact on amenity, design, traffic, ecology, residential amenity, heritage, or compliance with the local development plan. Comments that are vexatious or relate solely to private disputes (boundary walls, party walls, loss of a view) cannot be taken into account.

Application fees and statutory timelines

Application fees in Wales are set centrally by the Welsh Government under the Town and Country Planning (Fees) (Wales) Regulations 2015, as amended. The Welsh fees are broadly similar to (but not identical to) the English fees. Indicative fees for the most common Conwy application types in 2026:

  • Householder application (extensions and alterations to an existing dwelling): £230.
  • Full planning permission for a new dwelling: £460 plus £140 for each additional dwelling.
  • Change of use: varies by class, typically £460 or higher.
  • Prior notification / prior approval (where applicable under the Welsh GPDO): £100.
  • Listed Building Consent (where the property is statutorily listed): £250.

The statutory determination period is 8 weeks for householder and most local applications under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and 13 weeks for major developments. Conwy generally meets these targets but can extend via a further-information request that pauses the clock.

For an appeal against a refusal or conditions, the appeal is made to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) rather than the English Planning Inspectorate. For a walkthrough of the English process, see our UK planning appeals guide.

Conservation areas in Conwy

Conwy has a substantial stock of historic buildings and conservation areas, reflecting the area’s long history as a strategic North Wales location. Designated Conservation Areas include:

  • Conwy walled town — the medieval walled town, including Conwy Castle (a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd inscription).
  • Llandudno — the Victorian seaside resort, including the historic Mostyn Street, the Grand Hotel, and the Happy Valley.
  • Degannwy — a historic village to the east of Conwy, with views of the castle and estuary.
  • Llanrwst — a historic market town on the River Conwy, with a Conservation Area including the 17th-century Almshouses and the Tu Hwnt i’r Bont tearoom (one of the oldest surviving lawyers’ offices in Wales).
  • Betws-y-Coed — a popular tourist village in the Snowdonia National Park, with a Conservation Area.
  • Llanfairfechan — a coastal town with a Conservation Area.
  • Penmaenmawr — a coastal town with a Conservation Area, dominated by the granite quarries that historically supplied setts for roads across Britain.
  • Colwyn Bay — a Victorian seaside resort with a Conservation Area along the promenade.

Within a Conservation Area:

  • Six weeks’ notice is required before any work to a tree.
  • Permitted Development rights are restricted for external alterations, cladding, and demolition.
  • Listed Building Consent is required separately for any alteration affecting the character of a listed building.

For the underlying householder-application context — which is the most common Conwy application type — see our guide on householder planning permission for a garden office. For a worked example of how a reorganisation case can affect an LPA, see our Allerdale planning guide. For the broader UK LPA portal landscape, see our Bradford planning portal guide.

Next steps and resources

Editorial note. This article is for guidance only and does not constitute regulated advice. Conwy is in Wales, where planning is a devolved matter and the Welsh GPDO, fee regulations, and national policy framework differ from the English equivalents. Properties in the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park are decided by the National Park Authority, not Conwy CBC. For project-specific questions, consult a chartered planning professional registered with the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).