With Google searches for “planning permission” up YoY in the UK, and “home improvement ideas” up 9900% this month, for many, redeveloping a home offers a more practical solution to moving home.
With property prices rising and moving costs increasing, the experts at Yell have found that more homeowners in the UK are opting for home improvements rather than relocating. With this in mind, Yell.com has reviewed planning applications across England from July 2023 to July 2024 to compile a list of the best and worst locations for planning approval, highlighting which areas make it easiest – and hardest – to secure planning permission for your home.
Upward trend in extending over moving
Research from TSB reveals that 41% of homeowners would prefer to build an extension than move house. According to Pepper Money’s Specialist Lending Study, 41% of those surveyed said the affordability of properties is preventing them from moving to a larger home elsewhere and 51% are considering a secured loan to make home improvements.
Barking and Dagenham has the lowest rate of approval at 63%
While overall this year 89% of residential planning permission has been approved (down from its peak at 91% in 2021), depending on which council your property resides in, it’s planning permission postcode lottery.
Barking and Dagenham is the hardest location to get planning permission, with only 63% of applications granted. This is 25% lower than the national average of 88%. This is followed by Greenwich (67%) and Hounslow (68%)
In Buckinghamshire in the South East, you’ll be joining the most acquiescent local authority, with 2,913 granted applications – the highest in England.
The City of London, London Legacy Development Corporation, Northumberland National Park, and the Isles of Scilly stand out with a 100% approval rate.
London is the hardest region to get planning permission, at only 81% approval
London (81%) is the most difficult region to get approval - 9% lower than the national average. This is followed by the East of England (87%) and Yorkshire (89%).
However, the Northeast, while having a lower number of applications, is the region with the highest percentage of approvals at 94%, making it an ideal region if you're looking for a smooth approval process.
Only 62% of applications in Bristol are made on time
If you’re applying in Bristol, only 62% of decisions are made on time, so be prepared for a potentially longer waiting period. This is followed by St Albans (65%) and Runnymeade (73%). The planning guarantee is the government's policy that no application should spend more than a year with decision makers, including any appeal. In practice, this means that major planning applications should be decided in no more than 26 weeks, and non-major applications within 16 weeks.
When embarking on a renovation or redevelopment project, securing planning permission is just the first step. To bring your vision to life, you’ll also need a skilled builder or structural engineer and architect to design and ensure the safety of your project. And, if a neighbour raises concerns, a chartered building surveyor can step in to help secure a party wall agreement, ensuring that your project proceeds smoothly and meets all legal requirements.
