Householder Planning Approval Rates and Times by Council
Eight weeks is the statutory period for a householder planning decision. In the year to June 2026 the 13 councils in and around the towns we work in decided 62% of householder applications within eight weeks with no extension, and 92% within eight weeks or an agreed extension. They granted 86%, against 90% across England.
How to read these figures
These are the government's figures for the year ending 30 June 2026 (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026), published on 24 September 2026 in the planning application statistics. Each figure covers a whole council area, not one town, and counts decisions made in the period. Applications withdrawn before a decision are not counted.
A householder application is an application to extend or alter an existing house: an extension, a loft conversion or a conservatory, for example. The definition is the government's, from its statistical release. New homes, lawful development certificates and permitted development prior approvals are counted separately. Where a council's section gives prior approval figures, they are for larger single-storey rear extensions: across England 12,267 of these were decided in the year to June 2026 and 82% could go ahead.
The table gives two measures of speed:
- Within eight weeks or an agreed extension. The statutory time limit for a householder decision is eight weeks (Determining a planning application, GOV.UK guidance). The government counts a decision as on time if it was made within eight weeks or, where the council and the applicant agreed in writing to extend the deadline, within that agreed time. A high figure can include many applications that took longer than eight weeks.
- Within eight weeks, no extension. This is our calculation from the published counts: decisions made within eight weeks with no extension, divided by all householder decisions. The government does not publish it as a percentage.
Percentages are whole numbers worked out from the counts. April to June 2026 is provisional and councils can revise earlier quarters. Worked this way, the England figures match the government's own summary: 90% granted and 93% decided within eight weeks or the agreed time.
The figures describe a year of past decisions. They do not show how strict a council is, and they do not predict the outcome or the timing of any one application.
Householder planning decisions by council, year to June 2026
(1) Merton Council: The yearly figure hides a change during the year. The on-time share was 93% in July to September 2025, 94% in October to December 2025, 81% in January to March 2026 and 73% in April to June 2026, the latest quarter.
(2) Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames: The government's release has no return from the council for October to December 2025 and January to March 2026, so the totals for those two quarters are the government's own estimates.
(3) Elmbridge Borough Council: The yearly figure hides a change during the year. The on-time share was 97% in July to September 2025, 90% in October to December 2025, 85% in January to March 2026 and 76% in April to June 2026, the latest quarter.
(4) Mole Valley District Council: The yearly figure hides a change during the year. The on-time share was 39% in July to September 2025, 81% in October to December 2025, 85% in January to March 2026 and 92% in April to June 2026, the latest quarter.
The share granted ranged from 77% at Mole Valley District Council to 93% at Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and Merton Council. A gap of a point or two between two councils should not be read as a real difference.
The two speed columns differ because of agreed extensions. The share of decisions made under one ranged from 4% at the London Borough of Sutton to 58% at Guildford Borough Council. Across England it was 32%.
Download the table: householder planning decisions by council (CSV).
Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, planning application statistics, year ending 30 June 2026, published 24 September 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Elmbridge Borough Council
Towns we cover in this council area: Weybridge, Walton-on-Thames, Cobham, Esher, Oxshott and Claygate.
Elmbridge Borough Council decided 900 householder planning applications in the year to June 2026 and granted 729 of them (81%). Across England, 90% were granted.
87% were decided within eight weeks or within an extension of time agreed with the applicant, against 93% across England. 55% were decided within eight weeks with no extension (England: 63%).
The yearly figure hides a change during the year. The on-time share was 97% in July to September 2025, 90% in October to December 2025, 85% in January to March 2026 and 76% in April to June 2026, the latest quarter.
It also decided 40 prior approval applications for larger single-storey rear extensions under permitted development: 28 could go ahead (70%) and 12 were refused.
From 1 April 2027 planning decisions here pass to the new East Surrey Council.
The council's own pages: planning applications, householder guidance, Article 4 directions, conservation areas, building control, infrastructure levy, design guidance.
Runnymede Borough Council
Towns we cover in this council area: Addlestone, New Haw and Chertsey.
Runnymede Borough Council decided 361 householder planning applications in the year to June 2026 and granted 319 of them (88%). Across England, 90% were granted.
98% were decided within eight weeks or within an extension of time agreed with the applicant, against 93% across England. 65% were decided within eight weeks with no extension (England: 63%).
It also decided 47 prior approval applications for larger single-storey rear extensions under permitted development: 37 could go ahead (79%) and 10 were refused.
From 1 April 2027 planning decisions here pass to the new West Surrey Council.
The council's own pages: planning applications, householder guidance, conservation areas, building control, infrastructure levy, design guidance.
Epsom and Ewell Borough Council
Towns we cover in this council area: Epsom and Ewell.
Epsom and Ewell Borough Council decided 411 householder planning applications in the year to June 2026 and granted 357 of them (87%). Across England, 90% were granted.
95% were decided within eight weeks or within an extension of time agreed with the applicant, against 93% across England. 88% were decided within eight weeks with no extension (England: 63%).
It also decided 35 prior approval applications for larger single-storey rear extensions under permitted development: 34 could go ahead (97%) and 1 was refused.
From 1 April 2027 planning decisions here pass to the new East Surrey Council.
The council's own pages: planning applications, householder guidance, Article 4 directions, conservation areas, building control, infrastructure levy, design guidance.
Mole Valley District Council
Towns we cover in this council area: Leatherhead and Ashtead.
Mole Valley District Council decided 488 householder planning applications in the year to June 2026 and granted 374 of them (77%). Across England, 90% were granted.
73% were decided within eight weeks or within an extension of time agreed with the applicant, against 93% across England. 43% were decided within eight weeks with no extension (England: 63%).
The yearly figure hides a change during the year. The on-time share was 39% in July to September 2025, 81% in October to December 2025, 85% in January to March 2026 and 92% in April to June 2026, the latest quarter.
It also decided 22 prior approval applications for larger single-storey rear extensions under permitted development: 15 could go ahead and 7 were refused.
From 1 April 2027 planning decisions here pass to the new East Surrey Council.
The council's own pages: planning applications, householder guidance, Article 4 directions, conservation areas, building control, infrastructure levy, design guidance.
Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
Towns we cover in this council area: Kingston, Surbiton and New Malden.
The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames decided 742 householder planning applications in the year to June 2026 and granted 616 of them (83%). Across England, 90% were granted.
92% were decided within eight weeks or within an extension of time agreed with the applicant, against 93% across England. 80% were decided within eight weeks with no extension (England: 63%).
The government's release has no return from the council for October to December 2025 and January to March 2026, so the totals for those two quarters are the government's own estimates.
In the two quarters it did report, it decided 56 prior approval applications for larger single-storey rear extensions: 36 could go ahead and 20 were refused.
The council's own pages: planning applications, householder guidance, Article 4 directions, conservation areas, building control, infrastructure levy, design guidance.
London Borough of Sutton
Towns we cover in this council area: Sutton and Cheam.
The London Borough of Sutton decided 601 householder planning applications in the year to June 2026 and granted 552 of them (92%). Across England, 90% were granted.
95% were decided within eight weeks or within an extension of time agreed with the applicant, against 93% across England. 91% were decided within eight weeks with no extension (England: 63%).
It also decided 130 prior approval applications for larger single-storey rear extensions under permitted development: 98 could go ahead (75%) and 32 were refused.
The council's own pages: planning applications, householder guidance, Article 4 directions, conservation areas, building control, infrastructure levy, design guidance.
Woking Borough Council
Towns we cover in this council area: Woking.
Woking Borough Council decided 508 householder planning applications in the year to June 2026 and granted 445 of them (88%). Across England, 90% were granted.
92% were decided within eight weeks or within an extension of time agreed with the applicant, against 93% across England. 52% were decided within eight weeks with no extension (England: 63%).
It also decided 27 prior approval applications for larger single-storey rear extensions under permitted development: 25 could go ahead and 2 were refused.
From 1 April 2027 planning decisions here pass to the new West Surrey Council.
The council's own pages: planning applications, householder guidance, conservation areas, building control, infrastructure levy, design guidance.
Guildford Borough Council
Towns we cover in this council area: Guildford.
Guildford Borough Council decided 859 householder planning applications in the year to June 2026 and granted 742 of them (86%). Across England, 90% were granted.
87% were decided within eight weeks or within an extension of time agreed with the applicant, against 93% across England. 32% were decided within eight weeks with no extension (England: 63%).
From 1 April 2027 planning decisions here pass to the new West Surrey Council.
The council's own pages: planning applications, householder guidance, conservation areas, building control, infrastructure levy, design guidance.
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Towns we cover in this council area: Twickenham, Richmond and Teddington.
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames decided 1,302 householder planning applications in the year to June 2026 and granted 1,085 of them (83%). Across England, 90% were granted.
98% were decided within eight weeks or within an extension of time agreed with the applicant, against 93% across England. 71% were decided within eight weeks with no extension (England: 63%).
It also decided 90 prior approval applications for larger single-storey rear extensions under permitted development: 65 could go ahead (72%) and 25 were refused.
The council's own pages: planning applications, householder guidance, Article 4 directions, conservation areas, building control, infrastructure levy, design guidance.
Merton Council
Towns we cover in this council area: Wimbledon and Morden.
Merton Council decided 759 householder planning applications in the year to June 2026 and granted 705 of them (93%). Across England, 90% were granted.
85% were decided within eight weeks or within an extension of time agreed with the applicant, against 93% across England. 40% were decided within eight weeks with no extension (England: 63%).
The yearly figure hides a change during the year. The on-time share was 93% in July to September 2025, 94% in October to December 2025, 81% in January to March 2026 and 73% in April to June 2026, the latest quarter.
It also decided 204 prior approval applications for larger single-storey rear extensions under permitted development: 139 could go ahead (68%) and 65 were refused.
The council's own pages: planning applications, householder guidance, Article 4 directions, conservation areas, building control, infrastructure levy, design guidance.
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
Towns we cover in this council area: Banstead.
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council decided 581 householder planning applications in the year to June 2026 and granted 543 of them (93%). Across England, 90% were granted.
96% were decided within eight weeks or within an extension of time agreed with the applicant, against 93% across England. 75% were decided within eight weeks with no extension (England: 63%).
It also decided 55 prior approval applications for larger single-storey rear extensions under permitted development: 38 could go ahead (69%) and 17 were refused.
From 1 April 2027 planning decisions here pass to the new East Surrey Council.
The council's own pages: planning applications, householder guidance, conservation areas, building control, infrastructure levy, design guidance.
Croydon Council
Towns we cover in this council area: Croydon.
Croydon Council decided 786 householder planning applications in the year to June 2026 and granted 681 of them (87%). Across England, 90% were granted.
94% were decided within eight weeks or within an extension of time agreed with the applicant, against 93% across England. 64% were decided within eight weeks with no extension (England: 63%).
It also decided 158 prior approval applications for larger single-storey rear extensions under permitted development: 125 could go ahead (79%) and 33 were refused.
The council's own pages: planning applications, householder guidance, Article 4 directions, conservation areas, building control, infrastructure levy, design guidance.
Spelthorne Borough Council
Spelthorne Borough Council decided 351 householder planning applications in the year to June 2026 and granted 306 of them (87%). Across England, 90% were granted.
97% were decided within eight weeks or within an extension of time agreed with the applicant, against 93% across England. 64% were decided within eight weeks with no extension (England: 63%).
It also decided 65 prior approval applications for larger single-storey rear extensions under permitted development: 57 could go ahead (88%) and 8 were refused.
From 1 April 2027 planning decisions here pass to the new West Surrey Council.
The council's own pages: planning applications, householder guidance, Article 4 directions, conservation areas, building control, infrastructure levy, design guidance.
What changes on 1 April 2027
Under The Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/264), on 1 April 2027 "the East Surrey councils are wound up and dissolved", and the Order makes the same provision for the West Surrey councils. It names the East Surrey councils as Elmbridge Borough Council, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, Mole Valley District Council, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and Tandridge District Council, and the West Surrey councils as Guildford Borough Council, Runnymede Borough Council, Spelthorne Borough Council, Surrey Heath Borough Council, Waverley Borough Council and Woking Borough Council. Two new councils, East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council, are established in their place.
Until then the existing councils decide planning applications: Surrey's local government reorganisation hub says they keep running day-to-day services until that date. Of the councils in this guide, Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Mole Valley and Reigate and Banstead pass to East Surrey Council and Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne and Woking pass to West Surrey Council. The five London boroughs in this guide are not part of the change.
Added together, the five councils that become East Surrey decided 2,804 householder applications in the year to June 2026 and granted 85%. The six that become West Surrey decided 3,351 and granted 88%. Both are our sums of the published council figures, not government figures, and they include Tandridge, Surrey Heath and Waverley, which are not in the table above.
The national regulations for council reorganisations (The Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transitional Arrangements) (No.2) Regulations 2008, S.I. 2008/2867, regulation 4(2)) provide that work in progress with an outgoing council "may be continued by, or in relation to, that council", meaning the council that takes over the function. When we checked on 12 November 2026, no official Surrey page set out how this will work for planning applications. If yours may still be undecided on 1 April 2027, ask the case officer.
Planning fees change on 8 December 2026
The government's published schedule changes national planning application fees on 8 December 2026 and again on 1 April 2027. The amounts are on GOV.UK: Planning application fees.
Householder decisions since 2022
The government's published series shows fewer householder applications being decided than in its busiest year. The 13 councils decided 13,852 in the year to June 2022 and 8,649 in the year to June 2026, a fall of 38%. Across England the fall was 39%. We read the series from the year to June 2019: the latest year is the lowest of the eight, for these councils and for England.
Changes to this page
- 12 November 2026: First published, with figures for the year ending 30 June 2026.
The next government release is due in December 2026 (July to September 2026 data).
Sources
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, planning application statistics (live tables), checked
- Planning applications in England: April to June 2026, statistical release, checked
- Determining a planning application, GOV.UK guidance, checked
- The Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/264), checked
- The Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transitional Arrangements) (No.2) Regulations 2008, S.I. 2008/2867, regulation 4(2), checked
- Surrey LGR Hub, Your questions answered, checked
- Planning application fees, GOV.UK, checked
- Open Government Licence v3.0, checked
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