Postcode lookup
Find local administrative information from a UK postcode
Enter a full UK postcode to identify the local authority information returned by a public postcode service.
The result can help you find a planning or building-control starting point, but service boundaries and providers do not always match a single council name.
The lookup uses public postcode data. A postcode can identify administrative areas, but it does not confirm which building-control body is appointed, whether a local authority delivers a particular service directly or which planning policy applies to the site. Always verify the result on the relevant authority's official website.
Your postcode is sent directly from this browser to the public postcodes.io service for the lookup. Briary does not receive or record it.
This is a location aid, not a definitive statement of the Building Regulations, planning policy or responsible approval body for the project.
How to use this tool
Start here, then keep the guide open alongside your work. Expand a section for the information you need.
What this tool does
The finder uses a UK postcode to return public administrative-location information. It helps you identify an area to investigate. It does not determine which Building Regulations apply, who must approve a project, or whether planning permission is needed.
1. Enter the site postcode
Use the postcode of the project site rather than your office or correspondence address. Include all letters and numbers; a normal space between the two parts is fine. Check the postcode against the address before submitting it. New developments may not yet have a recognised postcode.
2. Run the lookup
Choose Find area. The postcode is sent directly from your browser to postcodes.io, not to Briary. Wait for the result before trying another search. If no result is returned, check the postcode for typing errors and try again.
3. Verify the returned area
Compare the result with the site address and the authority’s own published information. Nearby sites can fall in different areas. A postal location alone is not definitive evidence of the responsible approval body. For a boundary case or a new postcode, verify directly using the authority’s official information.
If the lookup fails
The form identifies a missing or invalid postcode. A service or connection error does not mean the postcode is wrong: check your internet connection and retry later. Do not invent an alternative postcode to obtain a result for a site. If the problem persists, email toolsuite@briary.co.uk with the message shown.
Outputs, privacy and next steps
This tool has no PDF export or compliance certificate. Use the displayed information as a starting point and verify it before relying on it in project documentation. The tool does not save your postcode or send it to Briary. Avoid including personal addresses in a support email unless necessary to explain the issue.
Tell us where the project is
Include the site location when asking for a scope so we can identify the relevant national and local context.