The hardest and easiest places to get planning permission

Kimberley Taylor

Writer & Researcher

1. The Top 25 Easiest Places To Get Planning Permission
2. The Top 25 Hardest Places To Get Planning Permission

3. Methodology

There are plenty of benefits to property extensions, especially if you’re thinking about future saleability. It’s a great way to add value to your home, increase storage space, add fun extra features to the property, or even boost its sustainability.

However, depending on the type of extension you are planning, you might need to apply for planning permission. It’s really important to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s when it comes to your application so you can avoid any issues later down the line.

The length and success of planning permission applications will depend on the size and complexity of your proposal, as well as the council you’re applying to.

We wanted to find out which locations have the most success with planning permission applications, so we analysed government data to reveal the outcomes of planning applications from over 300 authorities across the country. Where does your hometown rank?

The Top 25 Easiest Places To Get Planning Permission

According to our analysis, Copeland in Cumbria is the easiest place to gain planning permission in England. On average, a whopping 99.65% of applications are granted - meaning anyone planning a renovation project in the area is likely to get the go-ahead.

Richmondshire in North Yorkshire and Torridge in Devon follow in second and third spots, with each area boasting an approval rate of over 98%.

Many rural areas in England also feature in the top 25, including Northumberland National Park ranking in 13th with a 97.60% approval rate, and the scenic district of Eden which ranks in 17th place with 97.43% of planning permission applications being approved.

Rank	Area	Approved %
1	Copeland, Cumbria	99.65%
2	Richmondshire, North Yorkshire	98.68%
3	Torridge, Devon	98.67%
4	Halton, Cheshire	98.34%
5	Fareham, Hampshire	98.24%
6	South Norfolk	98.14%
7	Knowsley, Merseyside	98.10%
8	Mendip, Somerset	98.05%
9	South Oxfordshire	97.92%
10	South Derbyshire	97.73%
11	Breckland, Norfolk	97.72%
12	Ryedale, North Yorkshire	97.64%
13	Northumberland National Park	97.60%
14	Winchester, Hampshire	97.55%
15	Hinckley and Bosworth, Leicestershire	97.49%
16	Basingstoke and Deane, Hampshire	97.45%
17	Eden, Cumbria	97.43%
18	Broadland, Norfolk	97.37%
19	King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Norfolk	97.36%
20	Sedgemoor, Somerset	97.23%
21	Cotswold, Gloucestershire	97.21%
22	Lincoln, Lincolnshire	97.16%
23	Melton, Yorkshire	97.16%
24	North Kesteven, Lincolnshire	97.12%
25	Cornwall	97.12%

The Top 25 Hardest Places To Get Planning Permission

Six out of the top 10 most difficult places in England to get planning permission are in London, with the remaining locations being found in neighbouring parts of the nation’s capital, including Essex and Hertfordshire. The borough of Barking and Dagenham is the hardest place to secure planning permission, with an average approval rate of just over 66%. Brent in London and Maldon in Essex follow to make up the top three.

Areas in Kent, London and Essex also feature heavily outside of the top 25, with the only northern areas to make the list including Ribble Valley in Lancashire with an approval rate of 78.35% and Rochdale, Greater Manchester, which ranks in 25th position with an approval rate of 79.32%.

Rank	Area	Approved %
1	Barking and Dagenham, London	66.07%
2	Brent, London	67.63%
3	Maldon, Essex	70.48%
4	Hounslow, West London	71.91%
5	Watford, Hertfordshire	72.64%
6	Greenwich, London	72.75%
7	Hillingdon, London	72.83%
8	Thurrock, Essex	73.39%
9	Epping Forest, Essex	74.43%
10	Enfield, London	75.47%
11	Croydon, London	75.71%
12	Hackney, London	76.33%
13	Basildon, Essex	76.90%
14	Kingston upon Thames, London	77.24%
15	Southend-on-Sea, Essex	77.69%
16	Gravesham, Kent	77.72%
17	Redbridge, London	78.16%
18	Ribble Valley, Lancashire	78.35%
19	Luton, Bedfordshire	78.41%
20	Sutton, London	78.58%
21	East Hertfordshire	79.10%
22	Uttlesford, Essex	79.16%
23	Lewisham, London	79.18%
24	Leicester, Leicestershire	79.22%
25	Rochdale, Greater Manchester	79.32%

If you’re thinking about undertaking a renovation project, you can find out more about how long it can take to get planning permission our guide here.

Methodology

Data was collected for the period of 01/10/2021 – 30/09/2022 for 315 districts within the UK, looking at the number of planning permissions and the number of applications approved. Data source found here.