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Bexley planning statistics

Householder applications decided in the year to June 2026, compared with the rest of England.

How long does planning permission take in Bexley?

Bexley decided 86.1% of householder applications within 8 weeks without an extension in the year to June 2026, against 62.7% across England.

Bexley is highlighted on the map. See on the map

Within 8 weeks, no extension

86.1%

21st of 297

23.4 points faster than England

Granted

94.6%

96th of 297

4.1 points higher than England

Extension of time

13.6%

31st of 297

18.7 points lower than England

Decisions (12 months)

877

Bexley decided 877 householder applications in the year to June 2026, granting 94.6%.

86.1% were decided within 8 weeks with no extension, against 62.7% across England (21st of 297 for speed).

A further 13.6% were decided under an extension of time agreed with the applicant.

That is up from 83.1% a year earlier.

Of 19 householder appeals decided in the same period, 21.1% were allowed.

How quickly decisions are made

Bexley against England, share of householder decisions each quarter

  • Within 8 weeks, no extension
  • Extension of time
  • England, within 8 weeks
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
QuarterWithin 8 weeks, no extensionExtension of timeEngland, within 8 weeks
2008 Q195.4%0.0%89.5%
2008 Q293.4%0.0%89.4%
2008 Q395.8%0.0%89.7%
2008 Q493.0%0.0%90.3%
2009 Q190.9%0.0%90.3%
2009 Q296.1%0.0%91.7%
2009 Q395.9%0.0%91.4%
2009 Q495.3%0.0%91.0%
2010 Q196.4%0.0%88.8%
2010 Q292.2%0.0%89.8%
2010 Q395.4%0.0%88.4%
2010 Q490.5%0.0%87.7%
2011 Q194.3%0.0%86.4%
2011 Q296.4%0.0%85.9%
2011 Q394.6%0.0%84.9%
2011 Q492.3%0.0%84.9%
2012 Q191.1%0.0%83.7%
2012 Q295.4%0.0%84.2%
2012 Q390.1%0.0%82.9%
2012 Q491.6%0.0%85.2%
2013 Q192.2%0.0%85.7%
2013 Q296.4%0.0%86.3%
2013 Q390.7%0.0%85.3%
2013 Q490.8%0.0%86.3%
2014 Q191.0%0.0%85.4%
2014 Q290.0%0.0%84.9%
2014 Q392.3%0.0%82.5%
2014 Q490.2%0.0%82.1%
2015 Q193.2%0.0%80.4%
2015 Q287.2%0.0%80.6%
2015 Q388.1%0.3%79.2%
2015 Q482.4%3.4%80.0%
2016 Q175.7%6.6%78.3%
2016 Q274.8%10.3%79.8%
2016 Q378.0%6.1%77.7%
2016 Q473.0%12.4%78.0%
2017 Q179.5%12.2%77.3%
2017 Q283.1%6.1%78.5%
2017 Q382.9%6.4%76.1%
2017 Q480.7%9.9%77.1%
2018 Q177.9%12.1%73.7%
2018 Q280.1%12.1%74.0%
2018 Q377.9%12.5%72.7%
2018 Q480.6%6.8%72.7%
2019 Q177.2%10.1%69.9%
2019 Q282.3%9.8%72.1%
2019 Q369.7%13.7%69.6%
2019 Q471.7%13.3%71.5%
2020 Q177.0%17.7%68.4%
2020 Q281.9%15.0%63.9%
2020 Q382.8%12.6%63.8%
2020 Q483.1%13.8%65.3%
2021 Q180.6%15.1%59.4%
2021 Q245.8%37.0%58.4%
2021 Q39.1%63.7%53.1%
2021 Q416.4%46.7%53.0%
2022 Q146.4%44.5%51.6%
2022 Q274.6%19.9%56.0%
2022 Q375.9%17.7%53.3%
2022 Q481.8%12.6%54.1%
2023 Q179.9%15.4%53.5%
2023 Q276.6%21.1%58.5%
2023 Q382.8%14.0%59.0%
2023 Q480.6%14.8%59.8%
2024 Q175.9%20.7%58.8%
2024 Q279.4%18.4%64.4%
2024 Q379.6%20.0%64.2%
2024 Q478.2%20.5%65.6%
2025 Q183.1%16.4%62.1%
2025 Q289.6%8.7%65.0%
2025 Q389.9%9.7%62.5%
2025 Q489.4%10.6%64.7%
2026 Q188.3%11.2%60.6%
2026 Q277.5%22.0%62.7%

Share of applications granted

Bexley against England

  • Bexley
  • England
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
QuarterBexleyEngland
2008 Q183.1%85.1%
2008 Q279.9%86.1%
2008 Q382.0%86.3%
2008 Q479.8%85.3%
2009 Q181.8%85.9%
2009 Q289.0%86.8%
2009 Q385.5%87.4%
2009 Q480.1%86.9%
2010 Q186.5%87.0%
2010 Q287.9%88.0%
2010 Q387.8%87.7%
2010 Q489.6%87.5%
2011 Q188.0%87.9%
2011 Q288.8%88.5%
2011 Q386.9%88.3%
2011 Q487.5%88.3%
2012 Q189.4%88.2%
2012 Q286.6%89.2%
2012 Q391.2%89.0%
2012 Q490.6%88.9%
2013 Q189.3%89.8%
2013 Q288.5%90.6%
2013 Q391.0%90.3%
2013 Q488.6%89.6%
2014 Q187.8%89.8%
2014 Q290.0%90.5%
2014 Q388.1%90.0%
2014 Q484.9%89.2%
2015 Q186.5%89.3%
2015 Q286.9%90.2%
2015 Q384.3%90.0%
2015 Q483.4%89.2%
2016 Q184.4%90.0%
2016 Q288.0%90.3%
2016 Q388.0%90.2%
2016 Q487.9%89.7%
2017 Q185.3%89.9%
2017 Q286.8%90.5%
2017 Q385.3%90.0%
2017 Q492.2%90.1%
2018 Q190.3%90.5%
2018 Q287.9%91.0%
2018 Q388.0%91.2%
2018 Q491.6%90.5%
2019 Q194.4%90.3%
2019 Q289.3%91.0%
2019 Q390.3%90.6%
2019 Q485.3%89.8%
2020 Q180.9%89.9%
2020 Q285.6%90.2%
2020 Q382.2%90.6%
2020 Q470.4%90.3%
2021 Q178.0%90.9%
2021 Q281.0%91.2%
2021 Q388.8%91.0%
2021 Q489.3%90.1%
2022 Q187.7%90.0%
2022 Q288.2%90.4%
2022 Q389.4%89.8%
2022 Q484.0%89.4%
2023 Q185.3%89.3%
2023 Q286.0%89.2%
2023 Q390.2%88.6%
2023 Q490.3%88.2%
2024 Q191.1%88.2%
2024 Q290.1%89.1%
2024 Q393.3%89.4%
2024 Q490.2%88.6%
2025 Q189.6%89.3%
2025 Q295.6%90.4%
2025 Q392.9%90.1%
2025 Q497.6%90.1%
2026 Q195.4%90.6%
2026 Q293.2%91.0%

How long decisions took

Householder decisions over the last 12 months

  • Within 8 weeks86.1%
  • 8 to 13 weeks0.1%
  • 13 to 26 weeks0.2%
  • Over 26 weeks0.0%
  • Extension of time agreed13.6%
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
Time takenDecisions
Within 8 weeks755
8 to 13 weeks1
13 to 26 weeks2
Over 26 weeks0
Extension of time agreed119

Appeals

Decided
19
Allowed
21.1%
Median wait
11 weeks

Householder appeals to the Planning Inspectorate decided in the same 12 months. England: 34.4% allowed.

Refusals overturned at appeal

8.8% of refusals were later overturned at appeal (July 2021 to June 2026): 50 appeals allowed against 561 refusals.

Split decisions count as half.

129th highest of 299 planning authorities. England: 8.9% (July 2021 to June 2026).

Householder refusals from MHCLG table PS2; appeals allowed from the Planning Inspectorate. Approximate: appeals decided in the period, which can relate to earlier refusals.

Larger home extensions (prior approval)

Single-storey rear extensions deeper than 4 metres on a detached house (3 metres otherwise), up to 8 metres (6 metres), can use prior approval instead of a planning application, except in conservation areas, National Landscapes and other protected areas.

Of 87 larger extension notifications between July 2025 and June 2026, 71 needed no approval, 7 were approved and 9 were refused.

Where Bexley had to decide, it refused 9 of 16 (56.3%), against 56.1% across England (2,210 of 3,939 decided).

Figures as first published (provisional).

MHCLG live table PDR 1.

Enforcement

4 planning enforcement notices issued in the year to June 2026.

0.04 per 1,000 homes, against 0.17 across England. 54th lowest of 294 planning authorities.

Covers all types of development, not only extensions.

MHCLG table P130; homes from the VOA Council Tax stock of properties.

Protected areas

31 conservation areas: Brook Street, Christ Church, Crossness, Erith Riverside, Erith Road, Foots Cray, Halfway Street, High Beeches, Iron Mill Lane, Lesney Park Road, Longlands Road, North Cray Village and 19 more.

Bexley has not published its Article 4 directions to the national planning data service, so the count may be incomplete.

Both can remove permitted development rights, so check with the council before relying on them. Permitted development rules

To check one postcode for a conservation area, listed buildings nearby, flood zone and radon, use the address check.

planning.data.gov.uk.

Builders

1,760 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 17.3 per 1,000 homes, about 0.5 householder decisions per firm a year.

21st highest of 294 planning authorities. England median: 10.1 per 1,000 homes and 0.5 decisions per firm.

Counts VAT or PAYE registered firms only, rounded to 5 by ONS; self-employed builders below the VAT threshold aren't included.

Finding a builder

ONS UK Business Counts; homes from the VOA Council Tax stock of properties; decisions from MHCLG table PS2.

Compared with neighbouring councils

Decisions and approvals in the year to June 2026; overturns over each council's appeal window; builders per 1,000 homes in 2026.

Decided within 8 weeks, no extension

Granted

Refusals overturned at appeal

Registered building firms per 1,000 homes

Questions about planning in Bexley

How long does planning permission take in Bexley?

Bexley decided 86.1% of householder applications within 8 weeks without an extension in the year to June 2026, against 62.7% across England.

Is my house in a conservation area in Bexley?

31 conservation areas: Brook Street, Christ Church, Crossness, Erith Riverside, Erith Road, Foots Cray, Halfway Street, High Beeches, Iron Mill Lane, Lesney Park Road, Longlands Road, North Cray Village and 19 more. Most councils publish a conservation area map showing whether a street is inside one.

How many builders are there in Bexley?

1,760 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 17.3 per 1,000 homes, about 0.5 householder decisions per firm a year. Counts VAT or PAYE registered firms only, rounded to 5 by ONS; self-employed builders below the VAT threshold aren't included.

Do I need planning permission for an extension in Bexley?

Many extensions can be built under permitted development without an application, but conservation areas and Article 4 directions can remove those rights, so check whether your address is in a conservation area or covered by an Article 4 direction before relying on them. Do you need planning permission?

Property prices and energy performance in Bexley

Homes sold July 2023 to June 2026, matched to the floor area and energy rating on their Energy Performance Certificate.

Median price per m²

£5,167

7,511 sales

21% below London

Homes sold rated EPC A to C

35.0%

Median energy score 65

12.7 points below London

Value added by extending, per m²

£2,600

22.5% on the sale price

22% below London

Energy upgrade, no extension

+1.9%

Sale-price uplift when the energy score rose 5+ points

0.5 points below London

The median home sold in Bexley was £430,000 for 82 m² of floor space. Price per m² is up 45% since 2015 (£3,605 to £5,233 per m², 2025). Across all 72,071 homes with a certificate, 42.3% are rated A to C on their latest one.

432 houses here were extended between two sales (second sale 2016 to 2026), adding a median 32 m². They sold for a median 22.5% more than similar unextended houses, £2,600 for each m² added. Will an extension pay for itself here?

Medians from HM Land Registry sale prices and MHCLG Energy Performance Certificates; groups under 30 sales or 50 extended houses are not shown. These describe past sales across many homes, not a valuation of any one. How these are worked out

Next steps for your extension

Compare every council · How we calculate these figures

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