PLANNING PERMISSION

Some councils fare better than others when it comes to approving planning applications. Martin Gaine reveals the best and worst, and explains what you can do to maximise your chances of gaining consent for your build

Applying for planning permission is one of the first major steps on many self build journeys; and some unfortunately come grinding to a painful halt when that application is refused. According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), in England the success rate for minor developments of one to nine new dwellings was 74% in the third quarter of 2021. That’s against a backdrop of 89% approval for applications in general. If we roughly extrapolate that out, this means around 3,000 self builders and smaller property developers suffer the heartbreak of a planning refusal each year (though, of course, some do succeed with revised applications and appeals).

Interestingly, the pain is not evenly spread around the country. In the north east of England, 87% of minor dwelling applications were approved; against just 69% in London. In fact, except for the south west, which has a respectable 80% success rate, there is a clear northsouth divide across the country. It is much harder to get planning permission in the south east and east of England than it is in the north or Midlands.

Even sharper differences emerge at local authority level. Just 19 English councils (almost all in the north or the Midlands) approved 100% of the minor dwelling applications they received in the third quarter of 2021. North Tyneside, Copeland and Oldham received 15, 13 and 16 applications respectively and approved them all.