Planning Departments
4 metropolitan borough councils - each is its own planning authority
Metropolitan county structure: South Yorkshire has no county council. Each of the 4 metropolitan borough councils is the Local Planning Authority for its area. The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (Mayor Oliver Coppard) handles strategic transport and investment but is not a planning authority. Contact your borough council directly for all planning and building enquiries. Note that parts of south-west Sheffield fall within the Peak District National Park, which is its own planning authority.
Sheffield City Council
Sheffield (excluding Peak District NP boundary)
0114 273 4567sheffield.gov.uk/planning
Sheffield is the UK's fourth largest city. The city's Upper Don and Sheaf valleys have significant historic flood risk - the 2007 floods affected large areas. Parts of the Rivelin, Loxley and Porter valleys sit within the Peak District National Park boundary; check which authority applies before submitting any application in these areas.
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
Doncaster, Mexborough, Thorne, Bawtry, Conisbrough
01302 736 000doncaster.gov.uk/planning
Doncaster includes major development areas around the former Robin Hood Airport site (Doncaster Sheffield Airport). Significant Don Valley floodplain - the 2019 floods caused widespread damage. The Isle of Axholme flat lands in the east have particular drainage and flood risk considerations.
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Barnsley, Penistone, Goldthorpe, Wombwell, Hoyland
01226 770 770barnsley.gov.uk/planning
Western parts of Barnsley borough border the Peak District National Park. Former colliery sites throughout the district are subject to ground contamination assessments as a planning condition for development.
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Rotherham, Maltby, Wath-upon-Dearne, Dinnington, Rawmarsh
01709 382 121rotherham.gov.uk/planning
The Don valley between Rotherham and Doncaster was severely affected by the November 2019 floods. Significant former steelworks sites remain with contamination and ground condition complexities. Pre-application advice recommended for brownfield sites.
Peak District National Park Authority
Separate planning authority for the national park within South Yorkshire
Peak District National Park Authority
Western Sheffield and parts of Barnsley within the national park boundary
01629 816 200peakdistrict.gov.uk/planning
Important: If your site is within the Peak District National Park boundary (which includes western parts of Sheffield city and parts of Barnsley), you must submit your planning application to the Peak District National Park Authority, NOT Sheffield or Barnsley council. Check your site's status carefully before applying. The PDNPA applies stricter policies than the borough councils, particularly for new build, extensions and extensions to residential curtilages.
Building Control
BCO contacts for Building Regulations approval across South Yorkshire
LABC - Find Your South Yorkshire Building Control Team
All 4 boroughs - postcode search
Each metropolitan borough council operates its own building control team. You may also use a Registered Building Control Approver anywhere in South Yorkshire.
Heritage & Conservation
Sheffield's Victorian quarter, medieval Doncaster and the Don Valley
Historic England - Yorkshire
Covers all of Yorkshire
01904 601 901yorkshire@historicengland.org.uk
York office. South Yorkshire's heritage includes Sheffield's Victorian cutlery quarter and Town Hall, Conisbrough Castle (one of England's finest Norman keeps), and the industrial archaeology of the Don Valley steelworks. Former industrial areas often require Heritage Impact Assessments.
South Yorkshire Historic Environment Record
Archaeology and built heritage - held by South Yorkshire Archaeological Service
South Yorkshire Archaeological Service (SYAS) maintains the county HER. Essential for archaeological evaluation requirements and heritage impact assessments.
Environment & Flood Risk
Don and Dearne flood valleys - major historic flood risk across the county
Environment Agency - Yorkshire Area
Flood risk, water quality, environmental permitting
03708 506 506Check flood risk - GOV.UK
Flood Incident Line: 0345 988 1188 (24hr). The River Don and its tributaries (Dearne, Rother, Sheaf) create extensive flood risk throughout South Yorkshire. The 2007 floods inundated thousands of homes in Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster; the November 2019 floods caused further major damage across the Don Valley. A Flood Risk Assessment is required for most development in Flood Zones 2 and 3. Ground contamination from former industrial uses is also prevalent throughout the Don Valley.
Utilities & Infrastructure
Yorkshire Water, Northern Gas Networks, Northern Powergrid and highways
Yorkshire Water
Water and sewerage - most of South Yorkshire
0345 124 2424yorkshirewater.com/developers
Parts of eastern Doncaster may be served by Severn Trent Water - check your postcode to confirm. Build-over agreements required within 3 metres of a public sewer.
Northern Powergrid
Electricity distribution - all of South Yorkshire
0800 011 3332northernpowergrid.com/connections
Power cuts: 105.
Northern Gas Networks (NGN)
Gas distribution - all of South Yorkshire
0800 040 7766northerngasnetworks.co.uk
Gas emergency: 0800 111 999. Use LSBUD or Dial Before You Dig to check pipe locations before excavating.
National Highways
M1, M18, M180, A1(M), A57, A616 - motorways and trunk roads
0300 123 5000nationalhighways.co.uk
Trade Bodies & Professional Registers
Find vetted tradespeople and professionals in South Yorkshire
Federation of Master Builders
Gas Safe Register
0800 408 5500gassaferegister.co.uk
NICEIC - Find a Registered Electrician
MCS - Find a Renewable Energy Installer
RICS - Find a Surveyor
Other Useful Contacts
Health & safety and consumer protection
Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
0300 003 1747hse.gov.uk
Notify HSE of notifiable construction projects under CDM Regulations at least 2 weeks before work begins.
Accuracy notice: Contact details and websites change. We update this directory periodically but always verify contacts directly. Last verified August 2026.