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South East

Brighton and Hove planning statistics

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

How long does planning permission take in Brighton and Hove?

Brighton and Hove decided 48.4% of householder applications within 8 weeks without an extension in the year to June 2026, against 62.7% across England.

Brighton and Hove is highlighted on the map. See on the map

Within 8 weeks, no extension

48.4%

243rd of 297

14.3 points slower than England

Granted

94.9%

84th of 297

4.4 points higher than England

Extension of time

49.3%

257th of 297

17.0 points higher than England

Decisions (12 months)

706

Brighton and Hove decided 706 householder applications in the year to June 2026, granting 94.9%.

48.4% were decided within 8 weeks with no extension, against 62.7% across England (243rd of 297 for speed).

A further 49.3% were decided under an extension of time agreed with the applicant.

That is down from 58.8% a year earlier.

Of 13 householder appeals decided in the same period, 30.8% were allowed.

How quickly decisions are made

Brighton and Hove 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 Q166.9%0.0%89.5%
2008 Q265.9%0.0%89.4%
2008 Q354.0%0.0%89.7%
2008 Q467.8%0.0%90.3%
2009 Q176.9%0.0%90.3%
2009 Q284.4%0.0%91.7%
2009 Q384.2%0.0%91.4%
2009 Q482.1%0.0%91.0%
2010 Q190.9%0.0%88.8%
2010 Q290.4%0.0%89.8%
2010 Q384.0%0.0%88.4%
2010 Q482.0%0.0%87.7%
2011 Q184.4%0.0%86.4%
2011 Q284.4%0.0%85.9%
2011 Q386.5%0.0%84.9%
2011 Q484.9%0.0%84.9%
2012 Q184.4%0.0%83.7%
2012 Q282.2%0.0%84.2%
2012 Q381.5%0.0%82.9%
2012 Q485.5%0.0%85.2%
2013 Q172.0%0.0%85.7%
2013 Q284.0%0.0%86.3%
2013 Q379.5%0.0%85.3%
2013 Q477.4%0.0%86.3%
2014 Q170.8%0.0%85.4%
2014 Q269.4%0.0%84.9%
2014 Q358.1%0.4%82.5%
2014 Q472.0%0.0%82.1%
2015 Q153.5%0.0%80.4%
2015 Q237.4%0.0%80.6%
2015 Q319.5%0.0%79.2%
2015 Q430.8%3.0%80.0%
2016 Q147.1%27.9%78.3%
2016 Q256.3%43.0%79.8%
2016 Q349.2%50.8%77.7%
2016 Q452.7%46.5%78.0%
2017 Q126.2%69.8%77.3%
2017 Q250.3%40.4%78.5%
2017 Q353.7%27.7%76.1%
2017 Q457.0%27.5%77.1%
2018 Q137.6%35.1%73.7%
2018 Q235.0%38.8%74.0%
2018 Q335.3%40.2%72.7%
2018 Q447.7%36.7%72.7%
2019 Q154.4%36.3%69.9%
2019 Q264.6%28.7%72.1%
2019 Q360.2%31.3%69.6%
2019 Q471.7%23.6%71.5%
2020 Q164.9%30.4%68.4%
2020 Q269.5%25.4%63.9%
2020 Q366.5%23.4%63.8%
2020 Q476.1%16.1%65.3%
2021 Q172.4%22.6%59.4%
2021 Q276.4%20.2%58.4%
2021 Q363.1%23.4%53.1%
2021 Q465.1%23.8%53.0%
2022 Q169.5%26.6%51.6%
2022 Q269.1%29.3%56.0%
2022 Q364.3%31.5%53.3%
2022 Q466.0%31.6%54.1%
2023 Q155.1%41.6%53.5%
2023 Q263.2%34.3%58.5%
2023 Q357.7%40.1%59.0%
2023 Q452.8%45.2%59.8%
2024 Q163.3%34.9%58.8%
2024 Q268.1%30.1%64.4%
2024 Q352.1%47.4%64.2%
2024 Q460.0%37.6%65.6%
2025 Q158.1%38.5%62.1%
2025 Q264.9%34.0%65.0%
2025 Q348.7%51.3%62.5%
2025 Q440.4%56.9%64.7%
2026 Q148.4%46.5%60.6%
2026 Q258.2%40.7%62.7%

Share of applications granted

Brighton and Hove against England

  • Brighton and Hove
  • England
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
QuarterBrighton and HoveEngland
2008 Q171.8%85.1%
2008 Q265.3%86.1%
2008 Q374.4%86.3%
2008 Q468.7%85.3%
2009 Q173.5%85.9%
2009 Q273.8%86.8%
2009 Q375.0%87.4%
2009 Q472.4%86.9%
2010 Q176.6%87.0%
2010 Q278.5%88.0%
2010 Q372.8%87.7%
2010 Q484.8%87.5%
2011 Q176.4%87.9%
2011 Q279.4%88.5%
2011 Q374.3%88.3%
2011 Q471.0%88.3%
2012 Q172.9%88.2%
2012 Q268.4%89.2%
2012 Q363.4%89.0%
2012 Q458.4%88.9%
2013 Q158.5%89.8%
2013 Q262.5%90.6%
2013 Q358.1%90.3%
2013 Q461.5%89.6%
2014 Q160.1%89.8%
2014 Q267.1%90.5%
2014 Q368.0%90.0%
2014 Q468.3%89.2%
2015 Q174.6%89.3%
2015 Q267.9%90.2%
2015 Q371.2%90.0%
2015 Q467.9%89.2%
2016 Q166.2%90.0%
2016 Q270.7%90.3%
2016 Q373.5%90.2%
2016 Q469.9%89.7%
2017 Q176.6%89.9%
2017 Q277.6%90.5%
2017 Q375.8%90.0%
2017 Q483.5%90.1%
2018 Q175.7%90.5%
2018 Q279.3%91.0%
2018 Q372.8%91.2%
2018 Q472.6%90.5%
2019 Q173.0%90.3%
2019 Q278.0%91.0%
2019 Q379.9%90.6%
2019 Q478.3%89.8%
2020 Q182.5%89.9%
2020 Q280.7%90.2%
2020 Q389.9%90.6%
2020 Q486.8%90.3%
2021 Q191.4%90.9%
2021 Q293.9%91.2%
2021 Q392.9%91.0%
2021 Q489.4%90.1%
2022 Q191.5%90.0%
2022 Q292.2%90.4%
2022 Q390.3%89.8%
2022 Q493.4%89.4%
2023 Q194.4%89.3%
2023 Q293.6%89.2%
2023 Q392.3%88.6%
2023 Q491.9%88.2%
2024 Q192.2%88.2%
2024 Q295.2%89.1%
2024 Q395.8%89.4%
2024 Q491.8%88.6%
2025 Q193.2%89.3%
2025 Q296.9%90.4%
2025 Q392.8%90.1%
2025 Q492.7%90.1%
2026 Q198.1%90.6%
2026 Q296.6%91.0%

How long decisions took

Householder decisions over the last 12 months

  • Within 8 weeks48.4%
  • 8 to 13 weeks0.7%
  • 13 to 26 weeks1.6%
  • Over 26 weeks0.0%
  • Extension of time agreed49.3%
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
Time takenDecisions
Within 8 weeks342
8 to 13 weeks5
13 to 26 weeks11
Over 26 weeks0
Extension of time agreed348

Appeals

Decided
13
Allowed
30.8%
Median wait
12 weeks

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

Refusals overturned at appeal

11.6% of refusals were later overturned at appeal (July 2021 to June 2026): 33 appeals allowed against 280 refusals.

Split decisions count as half.

64th 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 61 larger extension notifications between July 2025 and June 2026, 54 needed no approval, 5 were approved and 2 were refused.

Fewer than 10 decided in the period.

Figures as first published (provisional).

MHCLG live table PDR 1.

Enforcement

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

0.07 per 1,000 homes, against 0.17 across England. 94th 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

34 conservation areas: Benfield Barn, Brunswick Town, Carlton Hill, Cliftonville, College, Denmark Villas, East Cliff, Engineerium, Hangleton, Hove Station, Kemp Town, Montpelier and Clifton Hill and 22 more.

Brighton and Hove 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

1,210 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 8.8 per 1,000 homes, about 0.6 householder decisions per firm a year.

98th 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

Granted

Refusals overturned at appeal

Registered building firms per 1,000 homes

Questions about planning in Brighton and Hove

How long does planning permission take in Brighton and Hove?

Brighton and Hove decided 48.4% 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 Brighton and Hove?

34 conservation areas: Benfield Barn, Brunswick Town, Carlton Hill, Cliftonville, College, Denmark Villas, East Cliff, Engineerium, Hangleton, Hove Station, Kemp Town, Montpelier and Clifton Hill and 22 more. Most councils publish a conservation area map showing whether a street is inside one.

How many builders are there in Brighton and Hove?

1,210 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 8.8 per 1,000 homes, about 0.6 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 Brighton and Hove?

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 Brighton and Hove

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

Median price per m²

£5,345

9,105 sales

22% above South East

Homes sold rated EPC A to C

41.1%

Median energy score 67

11.5 points below South East

Value added by extending, per m²

£2,798

17.8% on the sale price

16% above South East

Energy upgrade, no extension

+2.7%

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

1.5 points below South East

The median home sold in Brighton and Hove was £430,000 for 83 m² of floor space. Price per m² is up 27% since 2015 (£4,203 to £5,338 per m², 2025). Across all 103,310 homes with a certificate, 48.1% are rated A to C on their latest one.

822 houses here were extended between two sales (second sale 2016 to 2026), adding a median 30 m². They sold for a median 17.8% more than similar unextended houses, £2,798 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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