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City of London planning statistics

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

How long does planning permission take in City of London?

City of London decided 0.0% of householder applications within 8 weeks without an extension in the year to June 2026, against 62.7% across England.

City of London is highlighted on the map. See on the map

Within 8 weeks, no extension

0.0%

62.7 points slower than England

Granted

100.0%

9.5 points higher than England

Extension of time

100.0%

67.7 points higher than England

Decisions (12 months)

1

City of London decided 1 householder applications in the year to June 2026, granting 100.0%.

Too few decisions are made here to rank the council fairly against others.

A further 100.0% were decided under an extension of time agreed with the applicant.

How quickly decisions are made

City of London 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 Q1100.0%0.0%89.5%
2008 Q2100.0%0.0%89.4%
2008 Q3100.0%0.0%89.7%
2008 Q4100.0%0.0%90.3%
2009 Q1––90.3%
2009 Q2100.0%0.0%91.7%
2009 Q3––91.4%
2009 Q4––91.0%
2010 Q1100.0%0.0%88.8%
2010 Q2––89.8%
2010 Q3––88.4%
2010 Q4––87.7%
2011 Q10.0%0.0%86.4%
2011 Q2100.0%0.0%85.9%
2011 Q3100.0%0.0%84.9%
2011 Q4––84.9%
2012 Q1––83.7%
2012 Q2––84.2%
2012 Q350.0%0.0%82.9%
2012 Q40.0%0.0%85.2%
2013 Q10.0%0.0%85.7%
2013 Q2––86.3%
2013 Q3––85.3%
2013 Q4––86.3%
2014 Q1––85.4%
2014 Q2––84.9%
2014 Q3––82.5%
2014 Q4––82.1%
2015 Q1––80.4%
2015 Q2––80.6%
2015 Q3––79.2%
2015 Q4––80.0%
2016 Q1––78.3%
2016 Q2––79.8%
2016 Q3––77.7%
2016 Q4––78.0%
2017 Q1––77.3%
2017 Q2––78.5%
2017 Q3100.0%0.0%76.1%
2017 Q40.0%100.0%77.1%
2018 Q10.0%100.0%73.7%
2018 Q2100.0%0.0%74.0%
2018 Q350.0%50.0%72.7%
2018 Q40.0%100.0%72.7%
2019 Q10.0%100.0%69.9%
2019 Q20.0%100.0%72.1%
2019 Q3––69.6%
2019 Q40.0%100.0%71.5%
2020 Q1––68.4%
2020 Q2––63.9%
2020 Q30.0%100.0%63.8%
2020 Q40.0%100.0%65.3%
2021 Q1––59.4%
2021 Q2––58.4%
2021 Q30.0%100.0%53.1%
2021 Q40.0%100.0%53.0%
2022 Q1––51.6%
2022 Q20.0%100.0%56.0%
2022 Q3––53.3%
2022 Q4––54.1%
2023 Q1––53.5%
2023 Q2––58.5%
2023 Q3––59.0%
2023 Q4––59.8%
2024 Q10.0%100.0%58.8%
2024 Q2100.0%0.0%64.4%
2024 Q30.0%100.0%64.2%
2024 Q40.0%100.0%65.6%
2025 Q1––62.1%
2025 Q2100.0%0.0%65.0%
2025 Q3––62.5%
2025 Q4––64.7%
2026 Q1––60.6%
2026 Q20.0%100.0%62.7%

Share of applications granted

City of London against England

  • City of London
  • England
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
QuarterCity of LondonEngland
2008 Q1100.0%85.1%
2008 Q2100.0%86.1%
2008 Q3100.0%86.3%
2008 Q4100.0%85.3%
2009 Q1–85.9%
2009 Q2100.0%86.8%
2009 Q3–87.4%
2009 Q4–86.9%
2010 Q1100.0%87.0%
2010 Q2–88.0%
2010 Q3–87.7%
2010 Q4–87.5%
2011 Q1100.0%87.9%
2011 Q2100.0%88.5%
2011 Q3100.0%88.3%
2011 Q4–88.3%
2012 Q1–88.2%
2012 Q2–89.2%
2012 Q3100.0%89.0%
2012 Q4100.0%88.9%
2013 Q1100.0%89.8%
2013 Q2–90.6%
2013 Q3–90.3%
2013 Q4–89.6%
2014 Q1–89.8%
2014 Q2–90.5%
2014 Q3–90.0%
2014 Q4–89.2%
2015 Q1–89.3%
2015 Q2–90.2%
2015 Q3–90.0%
2015 Q4–89.2%
2016 Q1–90.0%
2016 Q2–90.3%
2016 Q3–90.2%
2016 Q4–89.7%
2017 Q1–89.9%
2017 Q2–90.5%
2017 Q3100.0%90.0%
2017 Q4100.0%90.1%
2018 Q1100.0%90.5%
2018 Q2100.0%91.0%
2018 Q3100.0%91.2%
2018 Q4100.0%90.5%
2019 Q1100.0%90.3%
2019 Q2100.0%91.0%
2019 Q3–90.6%
2019 Q4100.0%89.8%
2020 Q1–89.9%
2020 Q2–90.2%
2020 Q3100.0%90.6%
2020 Q4100.0%90.3%
2021 Q1–90.9%
2021 Q2–91.2%
2021 Q3100.0%91.0%
2021 Q450.0%90.1%
2022 Q1–90.0%
2022 Q2100.0%90.4%
2022 Q3–89.8%
2022 Q4–89.4%
2023 Q1–89.3%
2023 Q2–89.2%
2023 Q3–88.6%
2023 Q4–88.2%
2024 Q1100.0%88.2%
2024 Q2100.0%89.1%
2024 Q3100.0%89.4%
2024 Q4100.0%88.6%
2025 Q1–89.3%
2025 Q2100.0%90.4%
2025 Q3–90.1%
2025 Q4–90.1%
2026 Q1–90.6%
2026 Q2100.0%91.0%

How long decisions took

Householder decisions over the last 12 months

  • Within 8 weeks0.0%
  • 8 to 13 weeks0.0%
  • 13 to 26 weeks0.0%
  • Over 26 weeks0.0%
  • Extension of time agreed100.0%
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
Time takenDecisions
Within 8 weeks0
8 to 13 weeks0
13 to 26 weeks0
Over 26 weeks0
Extension of time agreed1

Appeals

No householder appeals were decided in this period.

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

Refusals overturned at appeal

Too few refusals to measure reliably.

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 0 larger extension notifications between July 2025 and June 2026, 0 needed no approval, 0 were approved and 0 were refused.

Fewer than 10 decided in the period.

Figures as first published (provisional).

MHCLG live table PDR 1.

Enforcement

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

Small number of homes, so rates per home aren't comparable.

Covers all types of development, not only extensions.

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

Protected areas

28 conservation areas: Bank, Barbican and Golden Lane, Bishopsgate, Bow Lane, Brewery, Chancery Lane, Charterhouse Square, Creechurch, Crescent, Eastcheap, Fenchurch Street Station, Finsbury Circus and 16 more.

City of London 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

375 registered building and trade firms in 2026.

Small number of homes, so rates per home aren't comparable.

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 City of London

How long does planning permission take in City of London?

City of London decided 0.0% 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 City of London?

28 conservation areas: Bank, Barbican and Golden Lane, Bishopsgate, Bow Lane, Brewery, Chancery Lane, Charterhouse Square, Creechurch, Crescent, Eastcheap, Fenchurch Street Station, Finsbury Circus and 16 more. Most councils publish a conservation area map showing whether a street is inside one.

How many builders are there in City of London?

375 registered building and trade firms in 2026. 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 City of London?

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 City of London

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

Median price per m²

£12,500

349 sales

91% above London

Homes sold rated EPC A to C

64.6%

Median energy score 74

16.9 points above London

Value added by extending, per m²

–

Too few extended houses

Energy upgrade, no extension

–

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

The median home sold in City of London was £754,175 for 65 m² of floor space. Price per m² is down 11% since 2015 (£13,225 to £11,793 per m², 2025). Across all 5,640 homes with a certificate, 64.5% are rated A to C on their latest one.

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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