North East

Northumberland planning statistics

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

Search planning applications Northumberland council website

How long does planning permission take in Northumberland?

Northumberland decided 64.5% of householder applications within 8 weeks without an extension in the year to June 2026, against 62.7% across England.

Northumberland is highlighted on the map. See on the map

Within 8 weeks, no extension

64.5%

146th of 297

1.8 points faster than England

Granted

90.5%

181st of 297

In line with England

Extension of time

32.7%

159th of 297

In line with England

Decisions (12 months)

849

Northumberland decided 849 householder applications in the year to June 2026, granting 90.5%.

64.5% were decided within 8 weeks with no extension, against 62.7% across England (146th of 297 for speed).

A further 32.7% were decided under an extension of time agreed with the applicant.

That is up from 59.1% a year earlier.

Of 25 householder appeals decided in the same period, 36.0% were allowed.

How quickly decisions are made

Northumberland 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

Quarter	Within 8 weeks, no extension	Extension of time	England, within 8 weeks
2009 Q2	80.8%	0.0%	91.7%
2009 Q3	63.6%	0.0%	91.4%
2009 Q4	59.2%	0.0%	91.0%
2010 Q1	58.3%	0.0%	88.8%
2010 Q2	70.4%	0.0%	89.8%
2010 Q3	80.3%	0.0%	88.4%
2010 Q4	74.0%	0.0%	87.7%
2011 Q1	78.0%	0.0%	86.4%
2011 Q2	74.0%	0.0%	85.9%
2011 Q3	77.8%	0.0%	84.9%
2011 Q4	81.0%	0.0%	84.9%
2012 Q1	75.0%	0.0%	83.7%
2012 Q2	78.9%	0.0%	84.2%
2012 Q3	66.8%	0.0%	82.9%
2012 Q4	55.1%	0.0%	85.2%
2013 Q1	74.5%	0.0%	85.7%
2013 Q2	82.0%	0.0%	86.3%
2013 Q3	85.7%	0.0%	85.3%
2013 Q4	84.5%	0.0%	86.3%
2014 Q1	86.0%	0.0%	85.4%
2014 Q2	88.6%	1.1%	84.9%
2014 Q3	85.0%	1.3%	82.5%
2014 Q4	87.0%	2.8%	82.1%
2015 Q1	94.9%	0.0%	80.4%
2015 Q2	91.8%	2.5%	80.6%
2015 Q3	95.7%	2.0%	79.2%
2015 Q4	95.2%	1.7%	80.0%
2016 Q1	91.3%	4.6%	78.3%
2016 Q2	87.1%	8.1%	79.8%
2016 Q3	89.1%	6.3%	77.7%
2016 Q4	76.3%	13.3%	78.0%
2017 Q1	68.9%	14.3%	77.3%
2017 Q2	85.4%	8.3%	78.5%
2017 Q3	76.4%	18.1%	76.1%
2017 Q4	79.8%	13.6%	77.1%
2018 Q1	74.8%	15.9%	73.7%
2018 Q2	72.0%	20.9%	74.0%
2018 Q3	77.5%	18.5%	72.7%
2018 Q4	74.6%	12.7%	72.7%
2019 Q1	62.2%	13.3%	69.9%
2019 Q2	55.2%	17.5%	72.1%
2019 Q3	57.1%	27.6%	69.6%
2019 Q4	68.5%	24.0%	71.5%
2020 Q1	62.4%	31.5%	68.4%
2020 Q2	48.9%	42.4%	63.9%
2020 Q3	53.2%	36.5%	63.8%
2020 Q4	52.8%	37.1%	65.3%
2021 Q1	46.1%	43.3%	59.4%
2021 Q2	42.8%	49.1%	58.4%
2021 Q3	39.4%	48.0%	53.1%
2021 Q4	28.2%	52.2%	53.0%
2022 Q1	22.3%	49.6%	51.6%
2022 Q2	27.6%	45.9%	56.0%
2022 Q3	27.6%	50.3%	53.3%
2022 Q4	40.2%	51.9%	54.1%
2023 Q1	33.7%	57.2%	53.5%
2023 Q2	50.7%	41.4%	58.5%
2023 Q3	47.1%	39.7%	59.0%
2023 Q4	56.9%	37.4%	59.8%
2024 Q1	54.5%	36.4%	58.8%
2024 Q2	49.2%	33.0%	64.4%
2024 Q3	61.0%	30.7%	64.2%
2024 Q4	60.8%	27.5%	65.6%
2025 Q1	60.3%	33.3%	62.1%
2025 Q2	54.6%	39.8%	65.0%
2025 Q3	60.3%	36.7%	62.5%
2025 Q4	66.7%	31.3%	64.7%
2026 Q1	66.0%	33.0%	60.6%
2026 Q2	65.8%	29.7%	62.7%

Share of applications granted

Northumberland against England

Northumberland
England

Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk

Show data

Quarter	Northumberland	England
2009 Q2	92.1%	86.8%
2009 Q3	94.9%	87.4%
2009 Q4	93.1%	86.9%
2010 Q1	91.7%	87.0%
2010 Q2	94.6%	88.0%
2010 Q3	93.0%	87.7%
2010 Q4	94.9%	87.5%
2011 Q1	89.7%	87.9%
2011 Q2	95.7%	88.5%
2011 Q3	93.2%	88.3%
2011 Q4	95.0%	88.3%
2012 Q1	90.9%	88.2%
2012 Q2	91.6%	89.2%
2012 Q3	92.5%	89.0%
2012 Q4	90.2%	88.9%
2013 Q1	87.5%	89.8%
2013 Q2	91.2%	90.6%
2013 Q3	93.4%	90.3%
2013 Q4	92.7%	89.6%
2014 Q1	91.0%	89.8%
2014 Q2	89.4%	90.5%
2014 Q3	94.3%	90.0%
2014 Q4	93.7%	89.2%
2015 Q1	97.2%	89.3%
2015 Q2	95.3%	90.2%
2015 Q3	96.4%	90.0%
2015 Q4	96.5%	89.2%
2016 Q1	98.5%	90.0%
2016 Q2	95.6%	90.3%
2016 Q3	96.5%	90.2%
2016 Q4	95.3%	89.7%
2017 Q1	95.4%	89.9%
2017 Q2	96.0%	90.5%
2017 Q3	92.4%	90.0%
2017 Q4	98.2%	90.1%
2018 Q1	96.3%	90.5%
2018 Q2	96.5%	91.0%
2018 Q3	94.8%	91.2%
2018 Q4	94.3%	90.5%
2019 Q1	92.3%	90.3%
2019 Q2	94.3%	91.0%
2019 Q3	92.4%	90.6%
2019 Q4	92.0%	89.8%
2020 Q1	93.9%	89.9%
2020 Q2	97.0%	90.2%
2020 Q3	95.3%	90.6%
2020 Q4	95.6%	90.3%
2021 Q1	91.9%	90.9%
2021 Q2	93.1%	91.2%
2021 Q3	95.1%	91.0%
2021 Q4	88.4%	90.1%
2022 Q1	91.7%	90.0%
2022 Q2	93.8%	90.4%
2022 Q3	91.4%	89.8%
2022 Q4	89.5%	89.4%
2023 Q1	87.0%	89.3%
2023 Q2	90.1%	89.2%
2023 Q3	86.0%	88.6%
2023 Q4	90.0%	88.2%
2024 Q1	88.4%	88.2%
2024 Q2	82.7%	89.1%
2024 Q3	89.9%	89.4%
2024 Q4	91.0%	88.6%
2025 Q1	92.9%	89.3%
2025 Q2	93.5%	90.4%
2025 Q3	87.8%	90.1%
2025 Q4	90.9%	90.1%
2026 Q1	92.6%	90.6%
2026 Q2	90.9%	91.0%

How long decisions took

Householder decisions over the last 12 months

Within 8 weeks64.5%
8 to 13 weeks2.1%
13 to 26 weeks0.5%
Over 26 weeks0.1%
Extension of time agreed32.7%

Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk

Show data

Time taken	Decisions
Within 8 weeks	548
8 to 13 weeks	18
13 to 26 weeks	4
Over 26 weeks	1
Extension of time agreed	278

Appeals

Decided: 25
Allowed: 36.0%
Median wait: 9 weeks

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

Refusals overturned at appeal

7.2% of refusals were later overturned at appeal (July 2021 to June 2026): 33 appeals allowed against 453 refusals.

Split decisions count as half.

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 20 larger extension notifications between July 2025 and June 2026, 17 needed no approval, 1 was approved and 2 were refused.

Fewer than 10 decided in the period.

Figures as first published (provisional).

MHCLG live table PDR 1.

Enforcement

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

0.12 per 1,000 homes, against 0.17 across England. 132nd 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

70 conservation areas: Acomb, Allendale, Alnmouth, Alnwick, Amble, Bamburgh, Beadnell, Bedlington, Belford, Belsay, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Blanchland and 58 more.

13 Article 4 areas: 1 Bath Terrace, Blyth, 14 Bath Terrace, Blyth, 15 Bath Terrace, Blyth, 16 Bath Terrace, Blyth, 17 Bath Terrace, Blyth, 2 Bath Terrace, Blyth, 3 Bath Terrace, Blyth, 4 Bath Terrace, Blyth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Governor's House, Palace Green, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Holy Island, Longhirst and 1 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

1,220 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 7.4 per 1,000 homes, about 0.7 householder decisions per firm a year.

46th 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 Northumberland

How long does planning permission take in Northumberland?

Northumberland decided 64.5% 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 Northumberland?

70 conservation areas: Acomb, Allendale, Alnmouth, Alnwick, Amble, Bamburgh, Beadnell, Bedlington, Belford, Belsay, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Blanchland and 58 more. Most councils publish a conservation area map showing whether a street is inside one.

How many builders are there in Northumberland?

1,220 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 7.4 per 1,000 homes, about 0.7 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 Northumberland?

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 Northumberland

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

Median price per m²

£2,363

14,891 sales

15% above North East

Homes sold rated EPC A to C

58.7%

Median energy score 70

4.4 points above North East

Value added by extending, per m²

£1,510

20.1% on the sale price

48% above North East

Energy upgrade, no extension

+10.2%

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

2.2 points above North East

The median home sold in Northumberland was £205,995 for 90 m² of floor space. Price per m² is up 41% since 2015 (£1,685 to £2,381 per m², 2025). Across all 118,484 homes with a certificate, 51.5% are rated A to C on their latest one.

623 houses here were extended between two sales (second sale 2016 to 2026), adding a median 30 m². They sold for a median 20.1% more than similar unextended houses, £1,510 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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