City of London Council approves 98.7% of planning applications, based on 7,538 decisions from the council’s public planning portal. The national approval rate across the councils PlanningLens tracks is 87.43%. City of London is 11.3 percentage points above that rate.
According to PlanningLens analysis of 1,314 decided applications, City of London Council approved 98.6% of planning applications in 2025. The typical time from validation to decision in City of London is 11.6 weeks, the median across 7,397 applications decided since January 2020. Across 7,538 decisions on record (January 1987 to October 2026), the overall approval rate in City of London is 98.7%; the national approval rate across the councils PlanningLens tracks is 87.43%.
Source: PlanningLens (planninglens.co.uk) analysis of City of London council planning portal records · Data to 9 October 2026 · Quote freely with attribution
Enter your postcode to see approval patterns for your ward and application type.
This table counts every decided application in City of London, including types that the headline rate leaves out, so its totals are larger than the headline figure.
| Application Type | Approved | Refused | Total | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 10,552 | 117 | 10,669 | 98.9% |
| Prior Approval | 35 | 12 | 47 | 74.5% |
The free check shows approval patterns for your postcode. The property report follows by email.
Check my postcodeHow City of London’s planning approval rate has changed year by year, up 4.5pp since 2018.
Bar height reflects approval rate. Colour: green ≥85%, amber ≥70%, red below 70%.
Search for a reference on the council’s planning portal to see the full record.
| Reference | Proposal | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| 26/00389/LBC | Refurbishment and replacement of existing internal and external doors; internal | Approved |
| 26/00927/MDC | Submission of Construction Logistics Plan and Scheme for Protecting Residents pu | Approved |
| 26/00388/FULL | Minor works including: refurbishment and replacement of existing ground floor ex | Approved |
| 26/01010/FULL | Installation of a galvanised steel duct flue to the rooftop kitchen extract outl | Approved |
| 26/01011/LBC | Installation of a galvanised steel duct flue to the rooftop kitchen extract outl | Approved |
| 26/01091/FULL | Installation of a retractable awning on the shop front at Unit 3, 1 Liverpool St | Approved |
| 26/00985/FULL | Installation of 1no. fire escape door to eastern elevation and associated extern | Approved |
| 26/01012/FULL | Installation of an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) to flat roof area. | Approved |
| 26/01024/ADVT | Installation and display of 2 No. internally illuminated 0.55m x 0.39m polished | Approved |
| 26/01025/LBC | Installation and display of 2 No. internally illuminated 0.55m x 0.39m polished | Approved |
See what has been approved and refused near your address. The property report covers the 20 nearest decisions, refusal patterns in your ward and approval rates by project type, drawn from City of London's 7,538 decisions.
Check my postcodeCompare City of London's planning approval rates with neighbouring areas:
Dig deeper into City of London's planning statistics, by ward, extension type, or project category:
Data-driven guides to help you understand planning approval patterns:
Yes. PlanningLens offers a free planning permission check for City of London. Enter your postcode to instantly see approval rates for your ward and application type, based on 7,538 real decisions from City of London council. The full property-specific report is also free and emailed within minutes.
Enter your postcode on PlanningLens for a free instant check based on City of London's real planning decisions. The free property report goes further: it analyses the 20 nearest comparable decisions to your property, ward-level refusal patterns, and approval rates by application type. Free and emailed within minutes.
Based on 7,538 planning decisions, the overall approval rate in City of London is 98.7%. The national approval rate across the councils PlanningLens tracks is 87.43%.
PlanningLens has analysed 7,538 planning decisions from City of London council. 7,442 were approved and 96 were refused. These figures cover every decision on record for the council, January 1987 to October 2026.
The average approval rate in City of London is 98.7%, but outcomes depend heavily on your specific ward, the type of extension or development you are proposing, and local planning policy. Use the free PlanningLens postcode check to get a personalised score.
The typical time from validation to decision in City of London is 11.6 weeks, the median across 7,397 applications decided since January 2020. This PlanningLens figure is calculated from decision dates published by City of London council itself, reflecting actual elapsed time rather than statutory targets.
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