Buckinghamshire planning statistics
Householder applications decided in the year to June 2026, compared with the rest of England.
How long does planning permission take in Buckinghamshire?
Buckinghamshire decided 29.5% of householder applications within 8 weeks without an extension in the year to June 2026, against 62.7% across England.
Buckinghamshire is highlighted on the map. See on the map
Within 8 weeks, no extension
29.5%
286th of 297
33.2 points slower than England
Granted
86.3%
246th of 297
4.2 points lower than England
Extension of time
52.3%
265th of 297
20.0 points higher than England
Decisions (12 months)
2,855
Buckinghamshire decided 2,855 householder applications in the year to June 2026, granting 86.3%.
29.5% were decided within 8 weeks with no extension, against 62.7% across England (286th of 297 for speed).
A further 52.3% were decided under an extension of time agreed with the applicant.
That is down from 58.2% a year earlier.
Of 83 householder appeals decided in the same period, 39.8% were allowed.
Buckinghamshire was formed from Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, South Bucks and Wycombe. Its figures start in Apr to Jun 2020.
How quickly decisions are made
Buckinghamshire against England, share of householder decisions each quarter
- Within 8 weeks, no extension
- Extension of time
- England, within 8 weeks
Show data
| Quarter | Within 8 weeks, no extension | Extension of time | England, within 8 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Q2 | 52.4% | 44.2% | 63.9% |
| 2020 Q3 | 51.1% | 43.4% | 63.8% |
| 2020 Q4 | 54.9% | 39.1% | 65.3% |
| 2021 Q1 | 51.8% | 36.8% | 59.4% |
| 2021 Q2 | 48.0% | 41.4% | 58.4% |
| 2021 Q3 | 47.0% | 42.3% | 53.1% |
| 2021 Q4 | 45.6% | 42.9% | 53.0% |
| 2022 Q1 | 42.3% | 47.6% | 51.6% |
| 2022 Q2 | 47.9% | 43.4% | 56.0% |
| 2022 Q3 | 45.4% | 47.6% | 53.3% |
| 2022 Q4 | 48.6% | 44.8% | 54.1% |
| 2023 Q1 | 44.2% | 51.9% | 53.5% |
| 2023 Q2 | 53.1% | 42.7% | 58.5% |
| 2023 Q3 | 49.7% | 47.5% | 59.0% |
| 2023 Q4 | 53.4% | 43.8% | 59.8% |
| 2024 Q1 | 49.5% | 46.5% | 58.8% |
| 2024 Q2 | 56.4% | 40.6% | 64.4% |
| 2024 Q3 | 58.0% | 40.4% | 64.2% |
| 2024 Q4 | 60.8% | 36.3% | 65.6% |
| 2025 Q1 | 58.2% | 35.8% | 62.1% |
| 2025 Q2 | 55.9% | 36.9% | 65.0% |
| 2025 Q3 | 45.5% | 43.6% | 62.5% |
| 2025 Q4 | 18.0% | 62.8% | 64.7% |
| 2026 Q1 | 14.7% | 64.1% | 60.6% |
| 2026 Q2 | 38.0% | 40.9% | 62.7% |
Share of applications granted
Buckinghamshire against England
- Buckinghamshire
- England
Show data
| Quarter | Buckinghamshire | England |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Q2 | 91.1% | 90.2% |
| 2020 Q3 | 91.3% | 90.6% |
| 2020 Q4 | 91.5% | 90.3% |
| 2021 Q1 | 91.5% | 90.9% |
| 2021 Q2 | 92.5% | 91.2% |
| 2021 Q3 | 88.8% | 91.0% |
| 2021 Q4 | 87.0% | 90.1% |
| 2022 Q1 | 86.4% | 90.0% |
| 2022 Q2 | 88.6% | 90.4% |
| 2022 Q3 | 88.5% | 89.8% |
| 2022 Q4 | 90.6% | 89.4% |
| 2023 Q1 | 92.8% | 89.3% |
| 2023 Q2 | 92.8% | 89.2% |
| 2023 Q3 | 91.7% | 88.6% |
| 2023 Q4 | 89.1% | 88.2% |
| 2024 Q1 | 90.1% | 88.2% |
| 2024 Q2 | 87.9% | 89.1% |
| 2024 Q3 | 86.7% | 89.4% |
| 2024 Q4 | 83.8% | 88.6% |
| 2025 Q1 | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| 2025 Q2 | 85.8% | 90.4% |
| 2025 Q3 | 84.9% | 90.1% |
| 2025 Q4 | 84.9% | 90.1% |
| 2026 Q1 | 88.0% | 90.6% |
| 2026 Q2 | 87.2% | 91.0% |
How long decisions took
Householder decisions over the last 12 months
- Within 8 weeks29.5%
- 8 to 13 weeks11.3%
- 13 to 26 weeks5.6%
- Over 26 weeks1.3%
- Extension of time agreed52.3%
Show data
| Time taken | Decisions |
|---|---|
| Within 8 weeks | 842 |
| 8 to 13 weeks | 322 |
| 13 to 26 weeks | 161 |
| Over 26 weeks | 36 |
| Extension of time agreed | 1494 |
Appeals
- Decided
- 83
- Allowed
- 39.8%
- Median wait
- 15 weeks
Householder appeals to the Planning Inspectorate decided in the same 12 months. England: 34.4% allowed.
Refusals overturned at appeal
7.2% of refusals were later overturned at appeal (July 2021 to June 2026): 150 appeals allowed against 2,079 refusals.
95th 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 192 larger extension notifications between July 2025 and June 2026, 118 needed no approval, 22 were approved and 52 were refused.
Where Buckinghamshire had to decide, it refused 52 of 74 (70.3%), against 56.1% across England (2,210 of 3,939 decided).
Figures as first published (provisional).
MHCLG live table PDR 1.
Enforcement
82 planning enforcement notices issued in the year to June 2026.
0.34 per 1,000 homes, against 0.17 across England. 23rd 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
186 conservation areas: Abbotsbrook, Adstock, Akeley, Alscot, Amersham, Amersham Hill, Ashendon, Askett, Aston Abbotts, Aston Sandford, Aylesbury Town, Beachampton and 174 more.
279 Article 4 areas: 122736, 164336, 19037, 19547, 220936, 227936, 239936, 240036, 240037, 27652, 27655, 3 parcels of land surrounding Lodge Lane - agricultural buildings. and 267 more.
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
3,480 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 14.5 per 1,000 homes, about 0.8 householder decisions per firm a year.
44th 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.
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
- Buckinghamshire29.5%
- Slough46.7%
- Windsor and Maidenhead72.9%
- Wokingham69.4%
- Milton Keynes70.4%
- Central Bedfordshire72.1%
- West Northamptonshire15.0%
- Dacorum79.3%
- Three Rivers80.1%
- Cherwell47.1%
- South Oxfordshire67.6%
- Hillingdon55.5%
- England62.7%
Granted
- Buckinghamshire86.3%
- Slough81.0%
- Windsor and Maidenhead76.5%
- Wokingham97.1%
- Milton Keynes91.5%
- Central Bedfordshire89.1%
- West Northamptonshire91.3%
- Dacorum90.2%
- Three Rivers90.9%
- Cherwell92.6%
- South Oxfordshire97.8%
- Hillingdon90.2%
- England90.5%
Refusals overturned at appeal
- Buckinghamshire7.2%
- Slough9.4%
- Windsor and Maidenhead5.0%
- Wokingham5.8%
- Milton Keynes4.4%
- Central Bedfordshire8.7%
- West Northamptonshire9.6%
- Dacorum11.0%
- Three Rivers12.1%
- Cherwell7.8%
- South Oxfordshire16.5%
- Hillingdon12.8%
- England8.9%
Registered building firms per 1,000 homes
- Buckinghamshire14.5
- Slough12.7
- Windsor and Maidenhead10.2
- Wokingham11.8
- Milton Keynes9.5
- Central Bedfordshire15.6
- West Northamptonshire12.7
- Dacorum15.8
- Three Rivers17.7
- Cherwell10.8
- South Oxfordshire12.4
- Hillingdon18.3
- England median10.1
Questions about planning in Buckinghamshire
How long does planning permission take in Buckinghamshire?
Buckinghamshire decided 29.5% 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 Buckinghamshire?
186 conservation areas: Abbotsbrook, Adstock, Akeley, Alscot, Amersham, Amersham Hill, Ashendon, Askett, Aston Abbotts, Aston Sandford, Aylesbury Town, Beachampton and 174 more. Most councils publish a conservation area map showing whether a street is inside one.
How many builders are there in Buckinghamshire?
3,480 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 14.5 per 1,000 homes, about 0.8 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 Buckinghamshire?
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 Buckinghamshire
Homes sold July 2023 to June 2026, matched to the floor area and energy rating on their Energy Performance Certificate.
Median price per m²
£4,910
20,466 sales
12% above South East
Homes sold rated EPC A to C
52.9%
Median energy score 69
In line with South East
Value added by extending, per m²
£2,845
20.9% on the sale price
18% above South East
Energy upgrade, no extension
+4.0%
Sale-price uplift when the energy score rose 5+ points
In line with South East
The median home sold in Buckinghamshire was £455,000 for 93 m² of floor space. Price per m² is up 35% since 2015 (£3,648 to £4,928 per m², 2025). Across all 176,309 homes with a certificate, 53.2% are rated A to C on their latest one.
2,211 houses here were extended between two sales (second sale 2016 to 2026), adding a median 36 m². They sold for a median 20.9% more than similar unextended houses, £2,845 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
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