A practical guide to annual monitoring reports: why councils publish them, what is inside, and how residents, developers and businesses can use the data.
Quick answer: Annual monitoring reports (AMRs), now often called Authority Monitoring Reports, are yearly documents in which UK local planning authorities show how well their Local Plan is working. They report on housing delivery, employment land, plan-making progress and whether policies are meeting their targets. Councils must publish this information at least once a year.
If you want to know how many homes your area actually built last year, or whether the council is on track with its Local Plan, the annual monitoring report is the place to look. It is one of the most useful planning documents, yet few people outside the planning world read it.
This guide explains what annual monitoring reports are, the legal duty behind them, the typical contents and how to read one quickly. We also cover other kinds of annual monitoring reports used in environmental permits and education, since the term appears in those fields too.
In this article
- What is an annual monitoring report?
- What is the legal basis for annual monitoring reports?
- What do annual monitoring reports usually include?
- How do you read an annual monitoring report quickly?
- Who uses annual monitoring reports?
- Are there other types of annual monitoring reports?
- Where can you find your council’s annual monitoring report?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
What is an annual monitoring report?
An annual monitoring report is a yearly review of a council’s planning policies. In England it was originally called the Annual Monitoring Report. Since the Localism Act 2011 the official name is the Authority Monitoring Report, but both names and the short form AMR are still widely used.
The report looks back over a monitoring year, usually 1 April to 31 March, and asks three simple questions:
- Is the council preparing its planning documents on time?
- Are the policies in the Local Plan being put into practice?
- Are the outcomes, such as new homes and jobs, meeting the targets?
For example, West Lancashire Borough Council uses its AMR to report on population, the economy, health, climate change and housing.
What is the legal basis for annual monitoring reports?
In England, the duty comes from section 35 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, as changed by the Localism Act 2011. The details are set out in regulation 34 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.
- Frequency: information must be made available at least once a year
- Publication: councils publish the report on their website
- Flexibility: councils can publish data more often, for example a live housing dashboard
In Wales, councils with a Local Development Plan prepare an LDP Annual Monitoring Report and send it to the Welsh Government each year. Scotland uses a different system based on development plan monitoring and annual planning performance reports.
Planning reforms under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 are changing how plans are prepared, so check your council’s latest report for any new format.
What do annual monitoring reports usually include?
Every council sets out its AMR differently, but most contain the same core sections.
| Section | What it shows | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Local Development Scheme progress | Whether plan documents are on schedule | Shows if the Local Plan is up to date |
| Housing completions | Net new homes built in the year | Compares delivery to housing need |
| Affordable housing | Number of affordable homes delivered | Key for local housing pressure |
| Five-year housing land supply | Sites available for the next five years | Affects how planning appeals are judged |
| Employment land | New offices, industrial and business space | Shows economic growth |
| Environment and climate | Flood risk, green space, renewable energy | Tracks sustainability goals |
| Duty to cooperate | Work with neighbouring councils | Needed for cross-border issues |
| Neighbourhood plans | Plans made or in progress | Shows local community planning |
Developer contributions such as the Community Infrastructure Levy are now usually reported in a separate Infrastructure Funding Statement, which many councils publish next to the AMR.
How do you read an annual monitoring report quickly?
1. Check the monitoring period
Look at the dates on the cover. Reports are often published several months after the year ends.
2. Read the executive summary
Most AMRs open with a summary of key figures and any policies that are not working.
3. Find the housing tables
Compare net completions with the annual requirement. A large gap may signal pressure for more sites.
4. Look for “red” indicators
Many councils use traffic-light ratings. Red or amber items show where targets are missed.
5. Note the next steps
The report often says which policies will be reviewed in the next Local Plan update.
A resident worried about new estates opens the latest AMR. It shows 640 net new homes against a target of 520, and 22% were affordable. That data helps the resident write a clear, evidence-based comment when the council consults on its next plan.
Who uses annual monitoring reports?
- Councillors and planners: to decide whether the Local Plan needs review
- Developers and landowners: to spot areas short of housing or employment land
- Planning inspectors: to test evidence during examinations and appeals
- Businesses: to judge where new premises and workers are likely
- Residents and community groups: to track change and respond to consultations
- Students and researchers: as a free, reliable source of local data
A café owner compares the AMRs of two nearby towns. One shows new office space and a growing population near the station. The owner chooses that town, where more lunchtime customers are likely.
If you are planning a property or business move, our guides on triple net leases and getting money to start a small business may also help.
Are there other types of annual monitoring reports?
Yes. The phrase is also used outside planning.
- Environmental permits: sites such as landfills or quarries may have to submit yearly monitoring data to a regulator such as the Environment Agency
- Higher education: universities and colleges run annual monitoring of courses to check quality and student results
- Grants and charities: funders often ask for an annual monitoring report showing what the money achieved
- Mitigation and biodiversity: some planning permissions require yearly monitoring of habitats or traffic
The structure is similar in each case: targets, results, problems and actions.
Where can you find your council’s annual monitoring report?
- Go to your council website and open the planning policy section.
- Search for “Authority Monitoring Report”, “Annual Monitoring Report” or “AMR”.
- Download the latest year and, if useful, the previous two years to see trends.
- Use GOV.UK to find your local council if you are not sure which one covers your area.
Put three years of housing completions from the AMRs into a simple spreadsheet. A trend line tells you far more than a single year, and it makes your consultation response much stronger.
Find your council’s latest annual monitoring report and note just three numbers: net new homes, affordable homes and the five-year land supply figure. You will understand your local planning situation better in ten minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does AMR stand for in planning?
AMR stands for Annual Monitoring Report or Authority Monitoring Report. Both describe the same yearly planning review.
Are councils required to publish an annual monitoring report?
Yes. In England, councils must make monitoring information available at least once a year under regulation 34 of the 2012 Local Planning Regulations.
What period does an AMR cover?
Most cover a monitoring year from 1 April to 31 March, published some months later.
What is the difference between an AMR and a five-year land supply statement?
The AMR covers many topics. The five-year land supply statement focuses only on housing sites and is sometimes published separately.
Can the public use AMR data?
Yes. AMRs are public documents and are often used in consultation responses and planning appeals.
Do annual monitoring reports affect planning decisions?
Indirectly. They show whether policies work and whether there is enough housing land, which can influence plan reviews and appeals.
Final Thoughts
- Annual monitoring reports track how well a council’s Local Plan is working each year.
- In England they are a legal duty under the 2004 Act and 2012 Regulations.
- Housing completions, affordable homes and land supply are the key figures to check.
- Residents, developers and businesses can all use AMR data to make better decisions.
