South Norfolk Council approves 94.2% of planning applications, based on 4,314 decisions from the council’s public planning portal. The national approval rate across the councils PlanningLens tracks is 87.43%. South Norfolk is 6.7 percentage points above that rate.
According to PlanningLens analysis of 1,671 decided applications, South Norfolk Council approved 93.9% of planning applications in 2025. Across 4,314 decisions on record (March 2021 to October 2026), the overall approval rate in South Norfolk is 94.2%; the national approval rate across the councils PlanningLens tracks is 87.43%.
Source: PlanningLens (planninglens.co.uk) analysis of South Norfolk council planning portal records · Data to 19 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 South Norfolk, including types that the headline rate leaves out, so its totals are larger than the headline figure.
| Application Type | Approved | Refused | Total | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full | 3,436 | 169 | 3,605 | 95.3% |
| Trees | 1,418 | 100 | 1,518 | 93.4% |
| Discharge of Conditions | 1,073 | 19 | 1,092 | 98.3% |
| Listed Building | 652 | 7 | 659 | 98.9% |
| Other | 580 | 71 | 651 | 89.1% |
| Certificate of Lawfulness | 140 | 17 | 157 | 89.2% |
| Change of Use | 103 | 9 | 112 | 92.0% |
| Advertisement | 68 | 3 | 71 | 95.8% |
The free check shows approval patterns for your postcode. The property report follows by email.
Check my postcodeWard-level data reveals where planning applications are most and least likely to succeed. Officers, local policies, and neighbourhood character all play a role.
| Ward | Approved | Refused | Total | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mulbarton And Stoke Holy Cross | 404 | 16 | 420 | 96.2% |
| Beck Vale, Dickleburgh And Scole | 398 | 14 | 412 | 96.6% |
| Diss And Roydon | 367 | 17 | 384 | 95.6% |
| Poringland, Framinghams And Trowse | 302 | 12 | 314 | 96.2% |
| Loddon And Chedgrave | 293 | 13 | 306 | 95.8% |
| Ditchingham And Earsham | 284 | 12 | 296 | 95.9% |
| Brooke | 272 | 15 | 287 | 94.8% |
| Hethersett | 258 | 13 | 271 | 95.2% |
| Bressingham And Burston | 258 | 10 | 268 | 96.3% |
| Cringleford | 238 | 14 | 252 | 94.4% |
| Central Wymondham | 231 | 10 | 241 | 95.9% |
| Hempnall | 228 | 10 | 238 | 95.8% |
| Bunwell | 205 | 10 | 215 | 95.3% |
| Harleston | 201 | 8 | 209 | 96.2% |
| Rockland | 200 | 9 | 209 | 95.7% |
| Aylsham | 198 | 6 | 204 | 97.1% |
| Wicklewood | 193 | 8 | 201 | 96.0% |
| Forncett | 179 | 11 | 190 | 94.2% |
| Great Witchingham | 174 | 15 | 189 | 92.1% |
| Hingham And Deopham | 173 | 11 | 184 | 94.0% |
| South Wymondham | 167 | 14 | 181 | 92.3% |
| Newton Flotman | 159 | 9 | 168 | 94.6% |
| Wroxham | 141 | 8 | 149 | 94.6% |
| Thurlton | 139 | 8 | 147 | 94.6% |
| Eynesford | 130 | 10 | 140 | 92.9% |
Showing the 25 wards with the most decisions, of 53. The property report covers every ward.
See full ward breakdown →How South Norfolk’s planning approval rate has changed year by year, down 4.4pp since 2021.
Bar height reflects approval rate. Colour: green ≥85%, amber ≥70%, red below 70%.
Each reference links to the record on the council’s planning portal.
| Reference | Proposal | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| 2026/2798 Ditchingham And Earsham | Lawful development certificate for the existing use of a conservatory erected in | Approved |
| 2026/2565 Thurlton | Proposed single storey rear flat roof extension. | Approved |
| 2026/2253 Hellesdon South East | Erection of single storey side extension and installation of roof mounted solar | Approved |
| 2026/2348 Hellesdon North West | Conversion of garage to habitable space with extension above and two storey rear | Approved |
| 2026/2005 Sprowston East | Demolition of existing garage and erection of attached ancillary accommodation a | Approved |
| 2026/2890 Brooke | Remove Ceicandii Conifer tree at rear of garden , then plant a native hedge at t | Approved |
| 2026/2784 Bressingham And Burston | Details reserved by condition 3 (Roofing Material) of 2026/0121 | Approved |
| 2026/2484 Spixworth With St Faiths | Removal of existing flat roof conservatory and garage to allow for single storey | Approved |
| 2026/2154 Bunwell | Retrospective - Erection of fence and five-bar gate | Approved |
| 2026/1611 Rockland | New 2-storey north extension, external and internal alterations and improvements | 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 South Norfolk's 4,314 decisions.
Check my postcodeCompare South Norfolk's planning approval rates with neighbouring areas:
Dig deeper into South Norfolk'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 South Norfolk. Enter your postcode to instantly see approval rates for your ward and application type, based on 4,314 real decisions from South Norfolk 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 South Norfolk'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 4,314 planning decisions, the overall approval rate in South Norfolk is 94.2%. The national approval rate across the councils PlanningLens tracks is 87.43%.
PlanningLens has analysed 4,314 planning decisions from South Norfolk council. 4,062 were approved and 252 were refused. These figures cover every decision on record for the council, March 2021 to October 2026.
The average approval rate in South Norfolk is 94.2%, 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.
Writing about planning in South Norfolk? These figures are free to republish with attribution. Copy the one-line citation, or paste the stat box into any website, CMS or newsletter, it carries its own styling and links back to this page for verification.