Norwich planning approval rate

Norwich council approved 92.6% of planning applications and refused 7.4%, based on 8,179 decisions analysed. Ranked 143rd out of 221 councils for strictness.

Last updated: March 2026 · Based on decisions from January 2020 to present

92.6%

overall approval rate

8,179

Decisions analysed

7,574

Approved

605

Refused

Wards covered

Planning in Norwich? 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 Norwich. Householder and full planning applications typically have the highest volume.

Full (3,502 decided)

92.7%

Discharge of Conditions (1,238 decided)

93.5%

Trees (825 decided)

88.7%

Listed Building (772 decided)

97.2%

Other (651 decided)

93.2%

Advertisement (426 decided)

90.6%

Prior Approval (278 decided)

91.7%

Certificate of Lawfulness (246 decided)

90.7%

Change of Use (241 decided)

89.2%

Approval rate by project type

These rates are based on what homeowners are actually building in Norwich — mined from 8,179 proposal descriptions.

Rear Extension (1,397 decided)

95.8%

Garage / Parking (708 decided)

89.5%

Side Extension (579 decided)

95.7%

Change of Use (Residential) (545 decided)

86.8%

Extension (General) (338 decided)

89.9%

Outbuilding (229 decided)

93.9%

Dormer (214 decided)

95.8%

Front Extension (187 decided)

95.7%

Conservatory (167 decided)

98.2%

Loft Conversion (137 decided)

94.9%

Wraparound Extension (108 decided)

96.3%

New Build (98 decided)

77.6%

Basement (63 decided)

87.3%

Annex (48 decided)

91.7%

HMO (46 decided)

52.2%

Flat Conversion (32 decided)

71.9%

Approval rate by ward

Planning outcomes vary significantly by ward within Norwich. Click any ward for detailed statistics.

Mancroft (1,607 decided)

93.6%

Thorpe Hamlet (1,120 decided)

92.3%

Eaton (1,098 decided)

92.5%

Town Close (730 decided)

92.3%

Nelson (625 decided)

94.7%

Catton Grove (580 decided)

91.4%

Lakenham (530 decided)

94.9%

University (503 decided)

89.3%

Wensum (341 decided)

89.7%

Sewell (293 decided)

93.5%

Mile Cross (291 decided)

92.1%

Crome (246 decided)

92.3%

Bowthorpe (190 decided)

91.6%

Not Applicable (22 decided)

90.9%

Wards in Norwich

Mancroft

93.6% approval · 1,607 decisions

Thorpe Hamlet

92.3% approval · 1,120 decisions

Eaton

92.5% approval · 1,098 decisions

Town Close

92.3% approval · 730 decisions

Nelson

94.7% approval · 625 decisions

Catton Grove

91.4% approval · 580 decisions

Lakenham

94.9% approval · 530 decisions

University

89.3% approval · 503 decisions

Wensum

89.7% approval · 341 decisions

Sewell

93.5% approval · 293 decisions

Mile Cross

92.1% approval · 291 decisions

Crome

92.3% approval · 246 decisions

Bowthorpe

91.6% approval · 190 decisions

Not Applicable

90.9% approval · 22 decisions

Recent comparable decisions

The most recent residential planning decisions in Norwich, showing how the council decides real applications.

26/00098/PDE

Single storey rear extension. The extension extends 4.18m beyond the rear wall o · Lakenham · Wed 04 Mar 2026

Approved

26/00040/F

Single storey rear extension and garage conversion to create attached annexe. · Eaton · Wed 04 Mar 2026

Approved

24/00826/F

Subdivision of plot and erection of one self-build dwelling. · Catton Grove · Wed 04 Mar 2026

Approved

Showing 3 of 200 comparable decisions. See all 200 in the Pro Report →

What gets approved near your property?

In Norwich, 1 in 14 applications are refused. Your PlanningLens Pro Report gives you 17 pages of intelligence specific to your property:

✓ Ward-level approval rates for your exact area
✓ Common refusal reasons in Norwich
✓ Your 10 nearest comparable planning decisions
✓ Appeal success rates
✓ PDF report to share with your architect

Get Norwich Pro Report — £79

Less than one set of revised drawings. Based on 8,179 decisions.

Compare with nearby councils

North Norfolk King's Lynn & West Norfolk Cambridge East Cambridgeshire

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