How Long Do Councils Take to Decide Planning Applications?

Methodology. Time to decision is measured from the council’s recorded validation date to its decision date — the period the statutory 8-week clock covers — for householder-type applications only (loft conversions, single-storey, two-storey and rear extensions). Applications with distinct statutory clocks (condition discharges, non-material amendments, outline applications, reserved matters, S106) are excluded, as are decisions taking over 364 days. London borough figures are included on a validation basis via the London Planning Datahub. Councils are ranked only where at least 50 qualifying decisions were made in 2025; councils with insufficient clean data, and councils whose portals publish unreliable validation dates, are not listed. The 8-week period can be lawfully extended by agreement with the applicant; this analysis measures elapsed time, not statutory compliance. Figures reflect the 10 June 2026 data snapshot and update as new decisions publish. See our full methodology.