Planning Departments
5 metropolitan borough councils - each is its own planning authority
Metropolitan county structure: West Yorkshire has no county council. Each of the 5 metropolitan borough councils is the Local Planning Authority, Local Highway Authority and Local Building Authority for its area. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Mayor Tracy Brabin) handles strategic transport and economic development but is not a planning authority. Contact your borough council directly for all planning and building enquiries.
Leeds City Council
Leeds, Morley, Pudsey, Wetherby, Otley
0113 222 4444leeds.gov.uk/planning
Largest metropolitan district in England by area. Pre-application advice strongly recommended for city centre sites. Leeds City Centre Conservation Area is extensive.
Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Bradford, Keighley, Ilkley, Shipley, Bingley
01274 431 000bradford.gov.uk/planning
Bradford is UK City of Culture 2025. Parts of the district adjoin the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Saltaire World Heritage Site requires Listed Building and Conservation Area consent.
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Brighouse, Sowerby Bridge
01422 357 257calderdale.gov.uk/planning
Significant flood risk throughout the Calder Valley - the 2015 Boxing Day floods caused widespread damage in Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd and Todmorden. Flood risk assessment essential for development near watercourses.
Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council
Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Batley, Mirfield, Holmfirth
01484 221 000kirklees.gov.uk/planning
Parts of the district border the Peak District National Park. The South Pennines is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covering upland parts of the district.
Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
Wakefield, Pontefract, Castleford, Normanton, Ossett
01924 306 090wakefield.gov.uk/planning
Building Control
BCO contacts for Building Regulations approval across West Yorkshire
LABC - Find Your West Yorkshire Building Control Team
All 5 boroughs - postcode search
Each metropolitan borough council runs its own building control team. You may also use a Registered Building Control Approver (private sector) throughout West Yorkshire.
Heritage & Conservation
Saltaire World Heritage Site, textile mill heritage and conservation areas
Historic England - Yorkshire
Covers West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and East Yorkshire
01904 601 901yorkshire@historicengland.org.uk
York office. West Yorkshire has outstanding industrial heritage: Saltaire (UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Bradford, the Piece Hall in Halifax, and extensive textile mill conservation areas in the Calder and Colne valleys. Pre-application consultation essential for Listed Building and Conservation Area applications.
West Yorkshire Historic Environment Record
Archaeology and built heritage records - held by West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Maintained by West Yorkshire Joint Services (WYJS). Essential for heritage impact assessments and archaeological evaluations required by planning conditions.
Environment & Flood Risk
Calder Valley flood risk, Aire, Wharfe and Colne catchments
Environment Agency - Yorkshire Area
Flood risk, water quality, environmental permitting
03708 506 506Check flood risk - GOV.UK
Flood Incident Line: 0345 988 1188 (24hr). West Yorkshire has some of the most complex urban flood risk in England. The 2015 Boxing Day floods caused over £500m of damage across the Calder and Aire valleys. Flood Zones 2 and 3 are extensive in the valleys - a Flood Risk Assessment is required for most development in these areas. Check the flood map before any site assessment.
Utilities & Infrastructure
Yorkshire Water, Northern Gas Networks, Northern Powergrid and highways
Yorkshire Water
Water and sewerage - all of West Yorkshire
0345 124 2424yorkshirewater.com/developers
Build-over or build-near agreements required before building over or within 3 metres of a public sewer. Contact the Developer Services team early for new connections.
Northern Powergrid
Electricity distribution - all of West Yorkshire
0800 011 3332northernpowergrid.com/connections
Power cuts: 105. Northern Powergrid operates the electricity distribution network across Yorkshire and the North East.
Northern Gas Networks (NGN)
Gas distribution - all of West Yorkshire
0800 040 7766northerngasnetworks.co.uk
Gas emergency: 0800 111 999. NGN operates the gas distribution network across Yorkshire and the North East. Use LSBUD or Dial Before You Dig to check pipe locations before excavating.
National Highways
M1, M62, M621, M606 - motorways and trunk roads through West Yorkshire
0300 123 5000nationalhighways.co.uk
Trade Bodies & Professional Registers
Find vetted tradespeople and professionals in West 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.