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Planning Permission in Southwark: 93.3% Approval Rate

Southwark Council approves 93.3% of planning applications, based on 28,675 real decisions analysed from the council’s public planning portal. The national average across all councils tracked by PlanningLens is 87.9%. Southwark sits 5.4 percentage points above the national average.

28,675 decisions analysed·Updated April 2026·Every result links to the original council record
93.3%
Approval rate
28,675
Decisions
26,760
Approved
1,915
Refused
Postcodes served by Southwark: E98, SE1, SE11, SE15, SE16, SE17, SE21, SE22, SE24, SE5

How Does Southwark Decide Applications?

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Approval Rates by Application Type in Southwark

Not all applications are treated equally. Extension types, listed building consent, and change of use applications each have very different success rates in Southwark.

Application TypeApprovedRefusedTotalRate
Other22,7421,51524,257
93.8%
Full3,6642603,924
93.4%
Prior Approval354140494
71.7%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are averages. Your property is specific.

A loft conversion in one ward can have a 90% approval rate. In the next ward, 55%. The free check tells you which side you're on.

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Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Southwark

Ward-level data reveals where planning applications are most and least likely to succeed. Officers, local policies, and neighbourhood character all play a role.

Ward variation in Southwark: PECKHAM has the highest approval rate at 100.0%, while SOBM sits at 78.4%. That 21.6 percentage point gap matters — where your property sits can shift your odds significantly.
WardApprovedRefusedTotalRate
DUVI2,190922,282
96.0%
BOBA1,9401562,096
92.6%
GOGR1,5101221,632
92.5%
RYLA1,4261701,596
89.3%
OLKE1,367881,455
94.0%
LBWB1,2891181,407
91.6%
DUWO1,232761,308
94.2%
SGIL1,157801,237
93.5%
NWAL1,046821,128
92.7%
DULH89862960
93.5%
NUQU830108938
88.5%
PERY82139860
95.5%
CAGR736106842
87.4%
CHHI72866794
91.7%
NBER75238790
95.2%
SUDO73846784
94.1%
ROTH64467711
90.6%
CHAU54260602
90.0%
SOMB55738595
93.6%
CATHEDRALS56710577
98.3%
SGEO48666552
88.0%
FARA47549524
90.6%
PECM43651487
89.5%
GRANGE4526458
98.7%
THE LANE3358343
97.7%

Showing top 25 of 51 wards by volume. Your Pro Report includes the full ward breakdown.

See full ward breakdown →

Recent Planning Decisions in Southwark

Real residential planning decisions from Southwark council. Each reference links to the council's own planning portal so you can verify the details yourself.

ReferenceProposalDecision
24/AP/2912
SGEO
Change of use of the 2nd and 3rd floors from Office (Use Class E) to 10 x resideApproved
25/AP/3182
CHHI
Construction of a single storey rear/side extension with new patio and solar panApproved
26/AP/0053
FARA
Details of condition 31 (Future Proofing for District Heating Network) pursuant Approved
26/AP/0359
OLKE
Construction of a single-storey side/rear wraparound extension.Approved
26/AP/0180
BOBA
Details of condition 29 'Cycle Parking' required by planning permission ref no. Approved
25/AP/3404
OLKE
Second floor extension over the existing rear projection, conversion of the loftApproved
26/AP/0195
LBWB
Notification of occupation, Paragraph 5.1.3 of S106 agreement 24/AP/1948Approved
26/AP/0076
CAGR
Alterations to existing shopfront to provide a new independent entrance to existApproved
25/AP/3160
OLKE
Replacement of existing single-glazed timber windows and doors (front and rear eApproved
25/AP/3355
SOMB
Retrospective application for the retention of single storey rear canopy.Refused

Before you spend £5,000+ on an architect

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Planning Data for Nearby Councils

Compare Southwark's planning approval rates with neighbouring areas:

Explore Southwark's Planning Data

Dig deeper into Southwark's planning statistics — by ward, extension type, or project category:

Planning Guides

Data-driven guides to help you understand planning approval patterns:

Frequently Asked Questions: Planning in Southwark

What is the planning approval rate in Southwark?

Based on 28,675 planning decisions, the overall approval rate in Southwark is 93.3%. The national average across councils tracked by PlanningLens is 87.9%. However, rates vary significantly by ward and application type.

How many planning applications have been decided in Southwark?

PlanningLens has analysed 28,675 planning decisions from Southwark council. 26,760 were approved and 1,915 were refused. These figures cover decisions from January 2020 to the present.

How are planning applications decided in Southwark?

The average approval rate in Southwark is 93.3%, but outcomes depend heavily on your specific ward, the type of extension or development you are proposing, and local planning policy. Use the PlanningLens free postcode check to get a personalised score.

About Southwark Planning Data: This analysis draws on 28,675 planning decisions published by Southwark council. Every application is classified as approved or refused based on the council's own decision wording. Withdrawn applications and procedural outcomes are excluded. Approval rates vary between wards, application types, and time periods. For full details on how we collect and analyse data, see our methodology →
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