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Burnley planning statistics

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

How long does planning permission take in Burnley?

Burnley decided 72.8% of householder applications within 8 weeks without an extension in the year to June 2026, against 62.7% across England.

Burnley is highlighted on the map. See on the map

Within 8 weeks, no extension

72.8%

91st of 297

10.1 points faster than England

Granted

88.6%

215th of 297

1.9 points lower than England

Extension of time

27.2%

119th of 297

5.1 points lower than England

Decisions (12 months)

114

Burnley decided 114 householder applications in the year to June 2026, granting 88.6%.

72.8% were decided within 8 weeks with no extension, against 62.7% across England (91st of 297 for speed).

A further 27.2% were decided under an extension of time agreed with the applicant.

That is down from 79.2% a year earlier.

How quickly decisions are made

Burnley 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 Q191.1%0.0%89.5%
2008 Q289.9%0.0%89.4%
2008 Q376.8%0.0%89.7%
2008 Q471.1%0.0%90.3%
2009 Q191.4%0.0%90.3%
2009 Q284.6%0.0%91.7%
2009 Q382.8%0.0%91.4%
2009 Q469.6%0.0%91.0%
2010 Q168.4%0.0%88.8%
2010 Q278.6%0.0%89.8%
2010 Q362.2%0.0%88.4%
2010 Q482.1%0.0%87.7%
2011 Q178.9%0.0%86.4%
2011 Q270.0%0.0%85.9%
2011 Q383.3%0.0%84.9%
2011 Q467.6%0.0%84.9%
2012 Q177.3%0.0%83.7%
2012 Q279.4%0.0%84.2%
2012 Q376.5%0.0%82.9%
2012 Q488.9%0.0%85.2%
2013 Q169.2%0.0%85.7%
2013 Q244.4%0.0%86.3%
2013 Q366.7%0.0%85.3%
2013 Q444.4%0.0%86.3%
2014 Q185.7%0.0%85.4%
2014 Q259.3%0.0%84.9%
2014 Q387.5%0.0%82.5%
2014 Q460.7%0.0%82.1%
2015 Q152.2%0.0%80.4%
2015 Q262.5%0.0%80.6%
2015 Q362.1%0.0%79.2%
2015 Q483.9%0.0%80.0%
2016 Q182.8%6.9%78.3%
2016 Q280.6%3.2%79.8%
2016 Q380.5%12.2%77.7%
2016 Q476.0%12.0%78.0%
2017 Q166.7%15.4%77.3%
2017 Q270.3%13.5%78.5%
2017 Q371.1%26.7%76.1%
2017 Q476.0%16.0%77.1%
2018 Q150.0%42.9%73.7%
2018 Q250.0%34.4%74.0%
2018 Q357.8%26.7%72.7%
2018 Q425.0%52.5%72.7%
2019 Q112.5%40.6%69.9%
2019 Q233.3%23.5%72.1%
2019 Q354.1%21.6%69.6%
2019 Q460.9%34.8%71.5%
2020 Q130.8%61.5%68.4%
2020 Q28.7%60.9%63.9%
2020 Q316.0%62.0%63.8%
2020 Q432.7%51.9%65.3%
2021 Q137.0%51.9%59.4%
2021 Q230.4%53.6%58.4%
2021 Q315.4%59.6%53.1%
2021 Q444.0%34.0%53.0%
2022 Q18.3%62.5%51.6%
2022 Q246.0%44.0%56.0%
2022 Q360.0%27.3%53.3%
2022 Q463.6%31.8%54.1%
2023 Q168.0%32.0%53.5%
2023 Q273.0%24.3%58.5%
2023 Q389.5%10.5%59.0%
2023 Q490.0%10.0%59.8%
2024 Q158.8%41.2%58.8%
2024 Q288.2%11.8%64.4%
2024 Q384.2%15.8%64.2%
2024 Q480.0%20.0%65.6%
2025 Q190.5%9.5%62.1%
2025 Q266.7%33.3%65.0%
2025 Q363.3%36.7%62.5%
2025 Q489.3%10.7%64.7%
2026 Q168.0%32.0%60.6%
2026 Q271.0%29.0%62.7%

Share of applications granted

Burnley against England

  • Burnley
  • England
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
QuarterBurnleyEngland
2008 Q195.6%85.1%
2008 Q287.0%86.1%
2008 Q396.4%86.3%
2008 Q486.7%85.3%
2009 Q180.0%85.9%
2009 Q282.7%86.8%
2009 Q394.8%87.4%
2009 Q484.8%86.9%
2010 Q184.2%87.0%
2010 Q278.6%88.0%
2010 Q386.7%87.7%
2010 Q489.3%87.5%
2011 Q186.8%87.9%
2011 Q290.0%88.5%
2011 Q395.8%88.3%
2011 Q491.9%88.3%
2012 Q195.5%88.2%
2012 Q294.1%89.2%
2012 Q388.2%89.0%
2012 Q483.3%88.9%
2013 Q180.8%89.8%
2013 Q294.4%90.6%
2013 Q3100.0%90.3%
2013 Q488.9%89.6%
2014 Q181.0%89.8%
2014 Q292.6%90.5%
2014 Q393.8%90.0%
2014 Q4100.0%89.2%
2015 Q191.3%89.3%
2015 Q281.3%90.2%
2015 Q396.6%90.0%
2015 Q493.5%89.2%
2016 Q189.7%90.0%
2016 Q2100.0%90.3%
2016 Q392.7%90.2%
2016 Q492.0%89.7%
2017 Q1100.0%89.9%
2017 Q291.9%90.5%
2017 Q391.1%90.0%
2017 Q488.0%90.1%
2018 Q196.4%90.5%
2018 Q296.9%91.0%
2018 Q393.3%91.2%
2018 Q492.5%90.5%
2019 Q196.9%90.3%
2019 Q296.1%91.0%
2019 Q389.2%90.6%
2019 Q495.7%89.8%
2020 Q1100.0%89.9%
2020 Q282.6%90.2%
2020 Q390.0%90.6%
2020 Q471.2%90.3%
2021 Q174.1%90.9%
2021 Q271.4%91.2%
2021 Q373.1%91.0%
2021 Q476.0%90.1%
2022 Q179.2%90.0%
2022 Q280.0%90.4%
2022 Q389.1%89.8%
2022 Q486.4%89.4%
2023 Q168.0%89.3%
2023 Q286.5%89.2%
2023 Q394.7%88.6%
2023 Q496.7%88.2%
2024 Q182.4%88.2%
2024 Q270.6%89.1%
2024 Q381.6%89.4%
2024 Q468.0%88.6%
2025 Q185.7%89.3%
2025 Q294.4%90.4%
2025 Q386.7%90.1%
2025 Q4100.0%90.1%
2026 Q176.0%90.6%
2026 Q290.3%91.0%

How long decisions took

Householder decisions over the last 12 months

  • Within 8 weeks72.8%
  • 8 to 13 weeks0.0%
  • 13 to 26 weeks0.0%
  • Over 26 weeks0.0%
  • Extension of time agreed27.2%
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
Time takenDecisions
Within 8 weeks83
8 to 13 weeks0
13 to 26 weeks0
Over 26 weeks0
Extension of time agreed31

Appeals

Decided
3
Allowed
0.0%
Median wait
9 weeks

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

Refusals overturned at appeal

11.3% of refusals were later overturned at appeal (July 2021 to June 2026): 13 appeals allowed against 111 refusals.

Split decisions count as half.

74th 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 9 larger extension notifications between July 2025 and June 2026, 7 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

3 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

10 conservation areas: Burnley Town Centre, Burnley Wood, Canalside, Harle Syke, Hurstwood, Jib Hill, Padiham, Palatine, Top o' th' Town and Worsthorne.

3 Article 4 areas: Article 4 Direction: Houses in Multiple Occupation, Article 4 Direction: Land at Hollins Farm, Red Lees Rd Cliviger/Worsthorne and Article 4 Direction: Land off Shay Lane Briercliffe.

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

330 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 7.6 per 1,000 homes, about 0.3 householder decisions per firm a year.

51st 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 Burnley

How long does planning permission take in Burnley?

Burnley decided 72.8% 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 Burnley?

10 conservation areas: Burnley Town Centre, Burnley Wood, Canalside, Harle Syke, Hurstwood, Jib Hill, Padiham, Palatine, Top o' th' Town and Worsthorne. Most councils publish a conservation area map showing whether a street is inside one.

How many builders are there in Burnley?

330 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 7.6 per 1,000 homes, about 0.3 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 Burnley?

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 Burnley

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

Median price per m²

£1,600

4,034 sales

39% below North West

Homes sold rated EPC A to C

38.1%

Median energy score 66

9.8 points below North West

Value added by extending, per m²

£420

10.7% on the sale price

69% below North West

Energy upgrade, no extension

+13.7%

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

7.8 points above North West

The median home sold in Burnley was £132,995 for 80 m² of floor space. Price per m² is up 67% since 2015 (£987 to £1,650 per m², 2025). Across all 33,293 homes with a certificate, 42.8% are rated A to C on their latest one.

84 houses here were extended between two sales (second sale 2016 to 2026), adding a median 24 m². They sold for a median 10.7% more than similar unextended houses, £420 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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