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Blackpool planning statistics

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

How long does planning permission take in Blackpool?

Blackpool decided 72.3% of householder applications within 8 weeks without an extension in the year to June 2026, against 62.7% across England.

Blackpool is highlighted on the map. See on the map

Within 8 weeks, no extension

72.3%

94th of 297

9.6 points faster than England

Granted

87.5%

231st of 297

3.0 points lower than England

Extension of time

25.9%

105th of 297

6.4 points lower than England

Decisions (12 months)

112

Blackpool decided 112 householder applications in the year to June 2026, granting 87.5%.

72.3% were decided within 8 weeks with no extension, against 62.7% across England (94th of 297 for speed).

A further 25.9% were decided under an extension of time agreed with the applicant.

That is down from 76.2% a year earlier.

Of 14 householder appeals decided in the same period, 28.6% were allowed.

How quickly decisions are made

Blackpool 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 Q196.7%0.0%89.5%
2008 Q294.3%0.0%89.4%
2008 Q397.3%0.0%89.7%
2008 Q4100.0%0.0%90.3%
2009 Q193.0%0.0%90.3%
2009 Q298.1%0.0%91.7%
2009 Q395.9%0.0%91.4%
2009 Q497.8%0.0%91.0%
2010 Q194.3%0.0%88.8%
2010 Q295.5%0.0%89.8%
2010 Q397.9%0.0%88.4%
2010 Q493.8%0.0%87.7%
2011 Q187.5%0.0%86.4%
2011 Q285.4%0.0%85.9%
2011 Q380.6%0.0%84.9%
2011 Q487.0%0.0%84.9%
2012 Q194.1%0.0%83.7%
2012 Q276.7%0.0%84.2%
2012 Q369.4%0.0%82.9%
2012 Q476.2%0.0%85.2%
2013 Q182.6%0.0%85.7%
2013 Q264.7%0.0%86.3%
2013 Q380.0%0.0%85.3%
2013 Q497.1%0.0%86.3%
2014 Q173.3%0.0%85.4%
2014 Q283.3%0.0%84.9%
2014 Q393.5%0.0%82.5%
2014 Q483.3%0.0%82.1%
2015 Q170.0%0.0%80.4%
2015 Q285.7%0.0%80.6%
2015 Q363.6%0.0%79.2%
2015 Q463.2%0.0%80.0%
2016 Q138.1%0.0%78.3%
2016 Q260.7%0.0%79.8%
2016 Q387.0%4.3%77.7%
2016 Q460.5%26.3%78.0%
2017 Q189.7%6.9%77.3%
2017 Q285.7%14.3%78.5%
2017 Q383.3%16.7%76.1%
2017 Q484.4%15.6%77.1%
2018 Q184.0%12.0%73.7%
2018 Q290.0%6.7%74.0%
2018 Q382.1%17.9%72.7%
2018 Q473.7%23.7%72.7%
2019 Q158.8%35.3%69.9%
2019 Q279.4%17.6%72.1%
2019 Q377.1%20.0%69.6%
2019 Q476.3%13.2%71.5%
2020 Q189.7%10.3%68.4%
2020 Q281.0%14.3%63.9%
2020 Q366.7%33.3%63.8%
2020 Q470.5%27.3%65.3%
2021 Q174.0%26.0%59.4%
2021 Q289.1%9.1%58.4%
2021 Q370.8%29.2%53.1%
2021 Q473.5%26.5%53.0%
2022 Q163.3%36.7%51.6%
2022 Q268.9%31.1%56.0%
2022 Q372.9%27.1%53.3%
2022 Q483.9%9.7%54.1%
2023 Q168.4%28.9%53.5%
2023 Q261.4%38.6%58.5%
2023 Q381.3%18.8%59.0%
2023 Q471.1%26.3%59.8%
2024 Q174.3%25.7%58.8%
2024 Q262.5%37.5%64.4%
2024 Q372.7%24.2%64.2%
2024 Q487.1%12.9%65.6%
2025 Q173.1%26.9%62.1%
2025 Q272.5%27.5%65.0%
2025 Q381.8%18.2%62.5%
2025 Q470.0%30.0%64.7%
2026 Q163.3%30.0%60.6%
2026 Q273.7%26.3%62.7%

Share of applications granted

Blackpool against England

  • Blackpool
  • England
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
QuarterBlackpoolEngland
2008 Q190.2%85.1%
2008 Q289.8%86.1%
2008 Q391.8%86.3%
2008 Q485.2%85.3%
2009 Q188.4%85.9%
2009 Q287.0%86.8%
2009 Q389.8%87.4%
2009 Q493.5%86.9%
2010 Q191.4%87.0%
2010 Q286.4%88.0%
2010 Q387.5%87.7%
2010 Q485.4%87.5%
2011 Q181.3%87.9%
2011 Q290.2%88.5%
2011 Q390.3%88.3%
2011 Q491.3%88.3%
2012 Q188.2%88.2%
2012 Q296.7%89.2%
2012 Q394.4%89.0%
2012 Q495.2%88.9%
2013 Q1100.0%89.8%
2013 Q2100.0%90.6%
2013 Q397.8%90.3%
2013 Q497.1%89.6%
2014 Q1100.0%89.8%
2014 Q290.0%90.5%
2014 Q390.3%90.0%
2014 Q491.7%89.2%
2015 Q195.0%89.3%
2015 Q295.2%90.2%
2015 Q3100.0%90.0%
2015 Q497.4%89.2%
2016 Q185.7%90.0%
2016 Q285.7%90.3%
2016 Q395.7%90.2%
2016 Q492.1%89.7%
2017 Q193.1%89.9%
2017 Q289.3%90.5%
2017 Q391.7%90.0%
2017 Q496.9%90.1%
2018 Q188.0%90.5%
2018 Q296.7%91.0%
2018 Q392.3%91.2%
2018 Q489.5%90.5%
2019 Q194.1%90.3%
2019 Q294.1%91.0%
2019 Q385.7%90.6%
2019 Q494.7%89.8%
2020 Q193.1%89.9%
2020 Q285.7%90.2%
2020 Q386.7%90.6%
2020 Q493.2%90.3%
2021 Q188.0%90.9%
2021 Q290.9%91.2%
2021 Q381.3%91.0%
2021 Q497.1%90.1%
2022 Q180.0%90.0%
2022 Q282.2%90.4%
2022 Q385.4%89.8%
2022 Q480.6%89.4%
2023 Q173.7%89.3%
2023 Q277.3%89.2%
2023 Q381.3%88.6%
2023 Q471.1%88.2%
2024 Q177.1%88.2%
2024 Q291.7%89.1%
2024 Q393.9%89.4%
2024 Q454.8%88.6%
2025 Q180.8%89.3%
2025 Q262.5%90.4%
2025 Q381.8%90.1%
2025 Q483.3%90.1%
2026 Q190.0%90.6%
2026 Q2100.0%91.0%

How long decisions took

Householder decisions over the last 12 months

  • Within 8 weeks72.3%
  • 8 to 13 weeks0.9%
  • 13 to 26 weeks0.9%
  • Over 26 weeks0.0%
  • Extension of time agreed25.9%
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
Time takenDecisions
Within 8 weeks81
8 to 13 weeks1
13 to 26 weeks1
Over 26 weeks0
Extension of time agreed29

Appeals

Decided
14
Allowed
28.6%
Median wait
10 weeks

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

Refusals overturned at appeal

7.5% of refusals were later overturned at appeal (July 2021 to June 2026): 10 appeals allowed against 134 refusals.

111th lowest 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 7 larger extension notifications between July 2025 and June 2026, 5 needed no approval, 0 were approved and 2 were refused.

Fewer than 10 decided in the period.

Figures as first published (provisional).

MHCLG live table PDR 1.

Enforcement

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

0.19 per 1,000 homes, against 0.17 across England. 70th highest 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

7 conservation areas: Foxhall, Layton, Marton Moss, North Promenade, Raikes Hall, Stanley Park and Town Centre.

6 Article 4 areas: Article 4 Direction - C3 to C4 HMO, Article 4 Direction - Conservation Area (Raikes Hall), Article 4 Direction - Conservation Area (Stanley Park) - Part 1, Article 4 Direction - Conservation Area (Stanley Park) - Part 2, Article 4 Direction - Locally Listed buildings and Article 4 Direction - Promenade.

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

465 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 6.4 per 1,000 homes, about 0.2 householder decisions per firm a year.

23rd lowest 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

  • Blackpool72.3%
  • Fylde59.7%
  • Wyre40.0%
  • England62.7%

Granted

  • Blackpool87.5%
  • Fylde97.7%
  • Wyre91.0%
  • England90.5%

Refusals overturned at appeal

Registered building firms per 1,000 homes

  • Blackpool6.4
  • Fylde8.1
  • Wyre9.5
  • England median10.1

Questions about planning in Blackpool

How long does planning permission take in Blackpool?

Blackpool decided 72.3% 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 Blackpool?

7 conservation areas: Foxhall, Layton, Marton Moss, North Promenade, Raikes Hall, Stanley Park and Town Centre. Most councils publish a conservation area map showing whether a street is inside one.

How many builders are there in Blackpool?

465 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 6.4 per 1,000 homes, about 0.2 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 Blackpool?

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 Blackpool

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

Median price per m²

£1,633

5,699 sales

38% below North West

Homes sold rated EPC A to C

32.6%

Median energy score 65

15.3 points below North West

Value added by extending, per m²

£284

6.0% on the sale price

79% below North West

Energy upgrade, no extension

+4.2%

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

1.7 points below North West

The median home sold in Blackpool was £138,000 for 85 m² of floor space. Price per m² is up 34% since 2015 (£1,224 to £1,644 per m², 2025). Across all 55,559 homes with a certificate, 37.0% are rated A to C on their latest one.

160 houses here were extended between two sales (second sale 2016 to 2026), adding a median 23 m². They sold for a median 6.0% more than similar unextended houses, £284 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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