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 North East & Yorkshire and the Humber 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 North East & Yorkshire and the Humber
Major Residential Planning Determination Periods in the North East & Yorkshire and the Humber
Planning Determination Period Summaries
Yorkshire and the Humber
If you go to the above charts and filter by the counties in Yorkshire and the Humber (North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, and East Riding of Yorkshire, or light and dark green, sky blue, and yellow if you prefer colours), you'll see the majority of authorities in the region are routinely taking longer than eight weeks to decide on major applications.
Richmondshire and Selby (both now part of North Yorkshire), Sheffield and Calderdale have at times taken more than 20 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 - notably in Calderdale the average period in 2020 was nearly three years!
North East
The same is true in the North East (filter by the counties of County Durham, Northumberland, Teeside, and Tyne & Wear or light and dark purple, and dark blue.
Redcar and Cleveland is also in the North East, despite being in the county of North Yorkshire), where the majority of authorities are taking much longer than eight weeks for non-major applications.
Stockton on Tees, North Tyneside and Northumberland have at times taken between 30 and 40 weeks (on average) to determine non-major applications.
Major applications in the North East are taking even longer to decide, far from the 13 week target, most LPAs are taking more than 20 weeks, with some (North Tyneside) taking up to 80 weeks (on average) to decide 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. You can find a summary of the data here.
Non-Major Residential Planning Applications Approved Rates
Major Residential Planning Applications Approved Rates
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
Yorkshire and the Humber
Our data shows that in Yorkshire and the Humber, 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 between 20% and 40% if the applications are taken to appeal.
North East
Our data shows that in most of the North East, the approval rate for non-major applications hovers around the 80% mark.
Stockton on Tees seems to buck this trend, with lower rates of approval in this area. Approval rates for Major applications have been generally between 50% and 80% across the north east.
Of the Major applications that are refused, the data shows that there is an overturn rate of between 20% and 40% if the applications are taken to appeal. This increases to between 50% and 60% in Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees respectively.
Related Resources
If you've enjoyed the data insights about planning applications in the North East & Yorkshire and the Humber, check out our other reports for the region below:
- North East & Yorkshire and the Humber: Strategic Land
- North East & Yorkshire and the Humber: Land Constraints
- North East & Yorkshire and the Humber: Demographics, Density & Migration Patterns
- North East & Yorkshire and the Humber: House Price Growth & Affordability