Homeowners in England have an 86% chance of getting their planning permission applications granted, data analysis has shown.
Analysis of government data between October 2018 and September 2019 has found that homeowners in the North East have the best chances of getting their planning application approved. The region has an average approval rate of 93%, with County Durham achieving the highest success rate at 96%.
Overall, the North East has the most consistent planning approval rates, with just 6% variation between the region’s highest and lowest approval rates.
At the other end of the scale, West London has the lowest average planning approval rate in England at 76%, 17% lower than the North East’s average. Hammersmith and Fulham had the highest approval rates in West London at 88%.
Looking at all of the London regions collectively, the UK’s capital had an average approval rate of 81%, based on a total of 74,523 applications made during the period. While homeowners in the City of London can enjoy a 97% success rate — the joint highest in England — residents in Harrow weren’t so fortunate. With a 64% approval rate, this is the lowest in England.
It’s good news for homeowners in Carlisle, Halton and the City of London. Residents in these locations have the highest chances of getting their planning permission granted, with a 97% average approval rate.
Excluding London’s combined data, homeowners in the South West were the most keen to extend and upgrade their homes, submitting 34,508 applications during the period, the highest of all regions. Residents in the East Midlands submitted the fewest applications at 6,509, which could potentially be a reflection of a difference in population size.
With the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber all taking the top three spots for the highest approval rates, it seems that homeowners in the North have the best chances of securing the permission they need for their projects.
If you’re planning building work on your home, specialist door and flooring supplier A Wood Idea has created an easy-to-use tool that allows you to check the planning permission approval rates where you live, ahead of submitting your application. You will find the tool here.
Speaking of the findings, Iain Smith from A Wood Idea commented: “Amidst a wave of political uncertainty, many homeowners are putting their plans to move home on hold and are instead investing in their existing property. Planning permission is critical to the success of many home development projects, and it’s important that owners understand the chances of their application being approved.
While of course this will depend on the scope of the project, we hope our tool will help users better understand the approval rates in their area, which can help them better plan their project.”
Benjamin Heginbotham, Director and Head of Design at The Practical Planning Company offers advice for homeowners who are considering submitting a planning application in the future.
“Planners want you to build and develop the area; they don’t want to fail your application. Firstly, consider your neighbours; anything that overshadows their property and has a negative impact on their living environment will likely be refused.
Your plans should be in-keeping with the area. Taking the lead from other builds on your street can be useful as, should somebody object while your application is going through, the planners are more likely to approve your project if there is a precedent set.
Finally, make sure you understand the architectural drawings before submitting your application. If you don’t, you could gain planning permission for a space or design that isn’t suitable or even what you wanted.”
While approval rates vary across England, homeowners who are considering submitting a planning application are encouraged to seek information from their local authority or planning professional to avoid delays and additional costs.