North Norfolk planning approval rate
North Norfolk council approved 94.8% of planning applications and refused 5.2%, based on 2,728 decisions analysed. Ranked 244th out of 300 councils for strictness.
Last updated: August 2026 · Based on decisions from January 2020 to August 2026
94.8%
overall approval rate
2,728
Decisions analysed
2,585
Approved
143
Refused
32
Wards covered
Planning in North Norfolk? Check your postcode to see approval rates specific to your ward and street.
Approval rate by application type
Different application types have different approval rates in North Norfolk. Householder and full planning applications typically have the highest volume.
93.8%
96.2%
91.2%
93.8%
98.6%
94.6%
94.1%
Approval rate by project type
These rates are based on what homeowners are actually building in North Norfolk, mined from 2,728 proposal descriptions.
95.7%
97.4%
95.4%
97.2%
92.6%
96.5%
95.3%
94.1%
95.2%
90.9%
100.0%
90.5%
Approval rate by ward
Planning outcomes vary significantly by ward within North Norfolk. Click any ward for detailed statistics.
Coastal
93.9%
Holt
94.5%
Erpingham
96.2%
Stody
95.4%
Priory
98.0%
Wells With Holkham
95.0%
Beeston Regis & The Runtons
96.3%
Walsingham
99.1%
Poppyland
96.2%
Roughton
92.7%
Hoveton & Tunstead
95.6%
Cromer Town
97.8%
Lancaster South
93.0%
Gresham
96.5%
Sheringham North
93.0%
The Raynhams
94.3%
Happisburgh
89.9%
Sheringham South
96.9%
Stalham
96.7%
Bacton
93.0%
Wards in North Norfolk
Coastal
93.9% approval · 228 decisions
Holt
94.5% approval · 201 decisions
Erpingham
96.2% approval · 182 decisions
Stody
95.4% approval · 152 decisions
Priory
98.0% approval · 147 decisions
Wells With Holkham
95.0% approval · 141 decisions
Beeston Regis & The Runtons
96.3% approval · 109 decisions
Walsingham
99.1% approval · 109 decisions
Poppyland
96.2% approval · 106 decisions
Roughton
92.7% approval · 96 decisions
Hoveton & Tunstead
95.6% approval · 90 decisions
Cromer Town
97.8% approval · 89 decisions
Lancaster South
93.0% approval · 86 decisions
Gresham
96.5% approval · 85 decisions
Sheringham North
93.0% approval · 71 decisions
The Raynhams
94.3% approval · 70 decisions
Happisburgh
89.9% approval · 69 decisions
Sheringham South
96.9% approval · 65 decisions
Stalham
96.7% approval · 60 decisions
Bacton
93.0% approval · 57 decisions
Recent comparable decisions
The most recent residential planning decisions in North Norfolk, showing how the council decides real applications.
Change of use of land from agricultural to residential associated with dwelling · North Walsham West · Fri 14 Aug 2026
Demolition of dwelling and erection of a self-build replacement 1.5-storey dwell · Walsingham · Thu 13 Aug 2026
Two story rear extension, removal of side porch and replacement front porch, int · Stody · Thu 13 Aug 2026
Showing 3 recent comparable decisions. See more in the full report →
What gets approved near your property?
In North Norfolk, 1 in 19 applications are refused. Your PlanningLens Full Planning Analysis gives you 17 pages of intelligence specific to your property:
✓ Ward-level approval rates for your exact area
✓ Common refusal reasons in North Norfolk
✓ Your 10 nearest comparable planning decisions
✓ Appeal success rates
✓ PDF report to share with your architect
Free planning check for North Norfolk →
✓ Common refusal reasons in North Norfolk
✓ Your 10 nearest comparable planning decisions
✓ Appeal success rates
✓ PDF report to share with your architect
Free. Based on 2,728 decisions.
Compare with nearby councils
Frequently asked questions about planning in North Norfolk
What is the planning approval rate in North Norfolk?
Based on 2,728 planning decisions analysed since 2020, North Norfolk approved 94.8% of applications and refused 5.2%. The council is ranked 244th out of 300 UK councils for approval rate.
How many planning applications are refused in North Norfolk?
North Norfolk refuses 5.2% of planning applications, roughly 1 in 19. That is lower than the UK average of 11.4%. Out of 2,728 decided applications since 2020, 143 were refused. PlanningLens lets you check any postcode to see which applications were refused near a specific property.
Which areas of North Norfolk have the highest planning approval rates?
The highest approval rates in North Norfolk are in Walsingham (99.1%), Priory (98.0%), and Cromer Town (97.8%). Approval rates vary significantly by ward, see the full ward breakdown above.
What types of planning application are most common in North Norfolk?
The most common planning application types in North Norfolk are: Full (1,158 decisions, 93.8% approved), Trees (821, 96.2%), and Other (204, 91.2%).
How long does a planning application take in North Norfolk?
Planning applications in North Norfolk take an average of 11.4 weeks to reach a decision, measured across 716 decisions with a recorded timeline. That is slower than the 8-week statutory target for householder applications (the statutory targets are 8 weeks for householder applications and 13 weeks for major developments). PlanningLens measures the actual time each application takes, not just the target. North Norfolk decides approximately 455 planning applications per year.
How do I check planning applications in North Norfolk?
You can search planning applications in North Norfolk directly on the council's official planning portal. PlanningLens also lets you check any postcode against 2,728 historical decisions in North Norfolk to see what's been approved and refused near a specific property.
How is PlanningLens approval rate data for North Norfolk calculated?
PlanningLens scrapes North Norfolk's official planning portal and analyses every published decision since January 2020. The approval rate is calculated as approved decisions divided by total decided applications, excluding withdrawn and pending applications. The full methodology, data sourcing, and Creative Commons BY 4.0 licensing terms are published at planninglens.co.uk/methodology.