Setting Up Smart Filters for Your Trade

The power of saved searches

Searching for planning applications manually every day is time-consuming and easy to forget. Saved searches solve this problem. You configure your search once — with the right keywords, location, radius, and filters — and PlanningIndex keeps it updated automatically. Every time a new application matches your saved search, it appears in your results.

This means you never miss a new opportunity. Set up your saved searches once, and PlanningIndex does the monitoring for you.

Choosing the right keywords

The keyword field is the most important part of your saved search. Think about the specific terms that appear in planning applications for your trade. A window company should search for "replacement windows" and "double glazing." A roofer should search for "roof replacement" and "re-roof." An extension builder should search for "rear extension" and "side extension."

Use multiple keywords separated by commas to broaden your search. PlanningIndex will return applications that match any of the keywords. You can also use more specific phrases to narrow your search — "timber sash windows" will find fewer but more relevant results than just "windows."

Setting location and radius

Choose a location that represents your operating area — your office, your home, or the centre of the area you want to work in. Then set a radius that matches how far you are willing to travel.

If you work in a dense urban area like London, a 10-mile radius may cover a huge number of applications. If you work in a rural area, you may need a 30 or 50-mile radius to find enough opportunities. Adjust until you are seeing a manageable number of relevant results.

Using additional filters

Beyond keywords and location, PlanningIndex offers filters for application type, status, date received, and council. Use these to further refine your saved searches.

Filter by application type to focus on householder applications if you do residential work, or commercial applications if you do commercial work. Filter by status to see only validated applications, which are more likely to proceed. Filter by date to focus on recent applications that have not yet been picked up by other contractors.

Creating trade-specific searches

Here are some example saved search configurations for different trades:

• Window company: keywords "replacement windows, double glazing, timber sash", radius 15 miles, type Householder.
• Roofer: keywords "roof replacement, re-roof, dormer, roof covering", radius 25 miles, type Householder.
• Extension builder: keywords "rear extension, side extension, wraparound, two-storey extension", radius 20 miles, type Householder.
• Loft conversion specialist: keywords "loft conversion, loft alteration, dormer", radius 20 miles, type Householder.
• Landscaper: keywords "garden room, landscaping, driveway, patio, outbuilding", radius 15 miles, type Householder.

Reviewing your saved searches

Check your saved searches regularly — daily or every few days. New applications will appear as they are submitted. Review the new results, add relevant applications to your CRM pipeline, and dismiss the ones that are not a good fit. This keeps your pipeline fresh and ensures you are always acting on the latest opportunities.

With well-configured saved searches, finding new work becomes a daily habit rather than a sporadic effort. Consistency is what separates businesses that always have work from those that struggle.