Introduction
The UK's planning system is multi-faceted and there are many aspects that developers need to be aware of when operating in a specific region.
In this section, we take a look at how LPAs are performing across the East of England in regard to average determination periods, application approval and overturn ratios, and housing delivery targets.
Planning Determination Periods
Most planning applications are supposed to be decided within 8 weeks, with major applications being given 13 weeks, and EIA developments given 16 weeks from validation to determination. LPAs report on the proportion of applications that were delivered within this time period.
However, when the stats are reported they normally take into account ‘extensions of time’ where the officer has pre-agreed with the applicant that the assessment period can be extended. If there is an agreed extension of time then the LPA can report the applications as being within the agreed period, no matter the number of actual weeks that have elapsed. LPAs can be placed into ‘special measures’ if more than 60% of their major applications, or 70% of their non-major planning applications are not determined within the agreed period.
In order to adjust for this reporting method we have ignored the published data and looked instead at the number of weeks between the validation date and determination date to provide an average determination period for major and non-major planning applications and we have examined this performance as a trend from 2018 to 2022.
Non-Major Residential Planning Determination Periods in the East of England
Major Residential Planning Determination Periods in the East of England
Planning Determination Period Summaries
If you go to the above charts, although most authorities in the East of England are able to determine planning applications within the 8 week period, there are some notable outliers including Bedford, Stevenage, Rochford and Great Yarmouth, where it has sometimes taken up to 40 weeks (on average) to determine non-major applications.
The same is true for Major planning applications, where some LPAs are taking considerably longer than the statutory 13 weeks to decide Major planning applications.
Residential Application Approval Rates and Overturn Ratio
We have looked at the proportion of residential planning applications that were approved by each LPA in the region, and the proportion of refused applications that were later overturned at appeal.
Non-Major Residential Planning Applications Approvals
Major Residential Planning Applications Approvals
Residential Applications Refusals Overturned at Appeal
We have looked at the proportion proportion of refused applications that were later overturned at appeal for each LPA. You can find a summary of the data here.
Non-Major Residential Appeal Overturns
Major Residential Appeal Overturns
Planning Application Approval and Overturn Ratio Summary
Our data shows that in the East of England between 50% and 75% of planning applications (major and non-major) were approved between 2018 and 2022. Of the Major applications that are refused, the data shows that there is an overturn rate of above 25% in most LPAs, with some outliers (Cambridge, Castle Point, Rochford, Forrest Heath, and Waveney) where the likelihood of an appeal success is much higher.
Related Resources
If you've enjoyed the data insights about planning applications in the East of England, check out our other reports for the region below:
- East of England: Local Planning Authority Performance
- East of England: House Price Growth & Affordability
- East of England: Land Constraints
- East of England: Demographics, Density & Migration Patterns
- East of England: Strategic Land