Blog

MCP is the new standard letting AI assistants talk to your data. Here's what it means for site assessment, sourcing, and planning appraisals.

Searchland analysis reveals 823,574 potential homes near train stations in England, highlighting where development could be prioritised under proposed NPPF reforms - and how policy shifts could reshape land sourcing strategies.

Major housing schemes now take over 300 days to get planning approval - a 75% increase in a decade - highlighting that delays, not refusals, are the real bottleneck in the UK planning system.

‍Searchland has a clear mission: to transform the way property professionals source sites. Here's the full story on where we come from and how we're helping developers across the UK.

The Renters Reform Bill presents the biggest shake-up England’s private rented sector has seen in decades. Expected to pass in 2025, Build to Rent (BTR) and Private Rented Sector (PRS) developers will need to rethink everything from unit design and management strategies to how they navigate the planning process.

You’ve probably heard all about how the high street is taking a beating from online retailers. Well, in a surprising trend reversal, we’re now seeing major e-commerce brands expanding into physical spaces. 

UK planning application approval rates by local authority from 2011–2026 - including live 2026 decisions. Compare councils, trends and sectors in one national view.

Permitted development rights allow certain types of development to proceed without full planning permission. Learn how they work and why they matter for developers.

A practical guide to the call for sites process, explaining how councils assess land and how developers use CFS to build long-term pipeline.

Class R rules changed in May 2024, expanding the commercial uses allowed on agricultural units. Understand what’s now permitted and how to assess viable opportunities.

Class Q allows agricultural buildings to be converted into up to 10 homes without full planning permission. Learn the rules, limits, and how developers are sourcing opportunities today.

Class MA permitted development allows Class E buildings to be converted into homes without full planning permission. Learn the rules, 2024 changes and key considerations.

Proposed NPPF reforms could introduce a “default yes” approach to development near train stations. We’ve analysed 1,000+ locations across England to identify where the biggest opportunities sit - and how to get ahead before policy is finalised.

Sourcing and appraising development land in the UK requires using multiple site sourcing tools, from checking land ownership and planning history to assessing flood risk, environmental constraints, and site boundaries.

Padel court development is booming across the UK, with planning applications up 113% in 2024. At Searchland, we've uncovered nearly 17,000 sites ready for padel investment. Here's where the real opportunity lies for landowners, developers and investors.

The UK’s Clean Power 2030 target—95% low-carbon electricity by the end of the decade - is reshaping the renewable energy landscape. But with grid congestion, planning hurdles, and soaring land competition, sourcing the right sites has never been tougher.

Well things have certainly changed since we wrote this article in early 2024. Not only do we now have a new Labour-led government but some huge changes to energy policy too. We'll keep the old stuff here for preservation and update the story as it develops.

Demand for electric vehicle charging sites is growing exponentially. Here we explore some of the best opportunities for developers, for building the future network of EV charge points in the UK.

When moving from an existing GIS platform to Searchland, don't leave your hard work behind. Bring all of your custom datasets along with our new Upload layer tool.

Tired of trawling through council websites to investigate interactive local plan policy maps? We’ve made it simple by gathering the different data packages and digitising them in our dynamic Local plan policy tool.

Say hello to the newest iteration of our powerful integrated letter-sending feature. Bringing you even more enhancements and capabilities to further amp up site prospecting.

Whether you're a renewable energy provider scouting for prime land or a developer eager to uncover the optimal locations for solar panel placement, our cutting-edge solar insights layers are tailored just for your needs.

Introducing map annotations. Easily add notes, draw out potential sites, and outline the footprints of planned buildings. This feature simplifies marking areas of interest and visualising planning ideas on our map.

Whether you are embarking on new construction projects near safeguarded radar or surveillance sites, or building at height - you might be interested in the planning constraints you could face. Our new National Air Traffic Service tool has you covered.