# How Do I Find Building Projects Before They Start?

> A GTM play for Revnu for construction, trades, fit-out, property and building suppliers. Planning permissions and building permits are public, dated and name the applicant. Revnu reads them, finds the business behind each project, and writes before the work is tendered.

Canonical: https://revnu.com/docs/play-planning-permits
Last updated: 2026-11-08

Every building project starts with paperwork the public can read. A planning permission names the applicant, the site and what they're building. A building permit says the work is about to start. Revnu reads councils' planning registers and cities' permit data, finds the business behind each project, and writes before the work goes out to tender.

## Why it works

Construction buyers choose their suppliers early, often before anyone outside the project knows it exists. A granted permission tells you the project is real, funded and on a timeline. Reaching the applicant in the weeks after approval puts you on the shortlist before the shortlist is written.

## How to run it

1. **Pick the area and the work.** Councils or cities, and the kind of project: commercial builds, extensions, change of use, fit-outs, warehouses.
2. **Read the registers.** Revnu reads the public planning register or permit data for each area and lists recent approvals with the applicant, site, description, date and a link.
3. **Find the business.** Revnu works out which company is behind each application and reads its website.
4. **Find the person.** The owner, managing director, property director or project lead, with a checked work email.
5. **Write about the project.** Name the site and the approval, and offer the part of the build you deliver.

## The prompt

> Find planning permissions granted in [councils] in the last 60 days for [commercial builds / extensions / change of use], where the applicant is a business. For each, note the site, what was approved, the date and a link. Find the business behind it, the [owner / property director] and their work email, and write an email that mentions the project and offers [what we do for builds like this].

[Try this in Revnu](https://revnu.com/sign-up?prompt=Find%20planning%20permissions%20granted%20in%20%5Bcouncils%5D%20in%20the%20last%2060%20days%20for%20%5Bcommercial%20builds%20%2F%20extensions%20%2F%20change%20of%20use%5D%2C%20where%20the%20applicant%20is%20a%20business.%20For%20each%2C%20note%20the%20site%2C%20what%20was%20approved%2C%20the%20date%20and%20a%20link.%20Find%20the%20business%20behind%20it%2C%20the%20%5Bowner%20%2F%20property%20director%5D%20and%20their%20work%20email%2C%20and%20write%20an%20email%20that%20mentions%20the%20project%20and%20offers%20%5Bwhat%20we%20do%20for%20builds%20like%20this%5D.)

Each lead keeps the planning record on its **Signals** tab, with its link. Your first sequence waits for your approval in **Review**.

## Run it every week

> Every Monday, check [councils]' planning registers for permissions granted last week for [kind of project], and add the business applicants that fit our buyer to the Planning campaign.

Set it up as a [workflow](https://revnu.com/docs/recurring-work.md) once and it runs on its own. See [recurring work with workflows](https://revnu.com/docs/recurring-work.md) and the [workflows API](https://revnu.com/docs/workflows.md).

## Related

[Intent signals library](https://revnu.com/docs/intent-signals.md), [government contract winners play](https://revnu.com/docs/play-government-contract-winners.md), [local businesses play](https://revnu.com/docs/play-local-businesses.md) and [all GTM plays](https://revnu.com/docs/play-overview.md).

## Frequently asked questions

### Which planning registers can Revnu read?

Public ones: UK councils' planning registers and US cities that publish building permit data. Name the councils or cities and Revnu reads each one's register.

### Applications or approvals?

Approvals are the stronger signal, because the project can go ahead. Applications are earlier, so you reach people before the decision. Ask for either, or both.

### What about homeowners?

Many applications are from homeowners. Revnu keeps business applicants for email. For homeowner projects, a builder can use the areas with the most applications to target local [ads](https://revnu.com/docs/how-revnu-runs-ads.md).

### Who sells well with this play?

Builders and subcontractors, architects, fit-out firms, building suppliers, equipment hire, solar and EV charging installers, insurers and commercial property services.

### Is it fine to mention their planning permission?

Yes. Planning decisions are published so the public can see them. Mention the site in one line and lead with how you help deliver the project.