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Portsmouth planning statistics

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

How long does planning permission take in Portsmouth?

Portsmouth decided 60.0% of householder applications within 8 weeks without an extension in the year to June 2026, against 62.7% across England.

Portsmouth is highlighted on the map. See on the map

Within 8 weeks, no extension

60.0%

184th of 297

2.7 points slower than England

Granted

89.6%

199th of 297

0.9 points lower than England

Extension of time

34.3%

174th of 297

2.0 points higher than England

Decisions (12 months)

230

Portsmouth decided 230 householder applications in the year to June 2026, granting 89.6%.

60.0% were decided within 8 weeks with no extension, against 62.7% across England (184th of 297 for speed).

A further 34.3% were decided under an extension of time agreed with the applicant.

That is up from 52.8% a year earlier.

Of 12 householder appeals decided in the same period, 16.7% were allowed.

How quickly decisions are made

Portsmouth 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 Q197.5%0.0%89.5%
2008 Q296.4%0.0%89.4%
2008 Q397.6%0.0%89.7%
2008 Q495.7%0.0%90.3%
2009 Q198.1%0.0%90.3%
2009 Q290.5%0.0%91.7%
2009 Q393.0%0.0%91.4%
2009 Q494.3%0.0%91.0%
2010 Q180.0%0.0%88.8%
2010 Q278.6%0.0%89.8%
2010 Q389.2%0.0%88.4%
2010 Q483.1%0.0%87.7%
2011 Q190.0%0.0%86.4%
2011 Q281.3%0.0%85.9%
2011 Q381.5%0.0%84.9%
2011 Q479.0%0.0%84.9%
2012 Q183.0%0.0%83.7%
2012 Q280.3%0.0%84.2%
2012 Q371.6%0.0%82.9%
2012 Q486.2%0.0%85.2%
2013 Q187.1%0.0%85.7%
2013 Q292.9%0.0%86.3%
2013 Q393.9%0.0%85.3%
2013 Q491.8%0.0%86.3%
2014 Q191.5%0.0%85.4%
2014 Q283.3%0.0%84.9%
2014 Q372.0%5.3%82.5%
2014 Q481.8%4.5%82.1%
2015 Q189.4%0.0%80.4%
2015 Q284.0%6.7%80.6%
2015 Q382.6%2.2%79.2%
2015 Q473.6%8.0%80.0%
2016 Q184.1%2.9%78.3%
2016 Q287.8%8.9%79.8%
2016 Q391.0%5.1%77.7%
2016 Q480.9%7.4%78.0%
2017 Q180.0%10.6%77.3%
2017 Q274.4%7.7%78.5%
2017 Q375.4%6.8%76.1%
2017 Q480.2%10.9%77.1%
2018 Q170.1%17.9%73.7%
2018 Q272.5%20.0%74.0%
2018 Q356.2%20.7%72.7%
2018 Q478.2%10.3%72.7%
2019 Q171.4%12.7%69.9%
2019 Q249.5%36.9%72.1%
2019 Q356.7%34.0%69.6%
2019 Q444.6%41.0%71.5%
2020 Q145.0%40.0%68.4%
2020 Q217.2%58.6%63.9%
2020 Q33.1%68.8%63.8%
2020 Q44.2%72.9%65.3%
2021 Q111.3%77.5%59.4%
2021 Q222.0%70.9%58.4%
2021 Q319.3%57.1%53.1%
2021 Q426.7%50.0%53.0%
2022 Q122.7%45.5%51.6%
2022 Q227.1%14.7%56.0%
2022 Q339.1%21.8%53.3%
2022 Q443.9%30.5%54.1%
2023 Q137.6%42.2%53.5%
2023 Q244.1%54.8%58.5%
2023 Q356.8%40.5%59.0%
2023 Q450.0%45.8%59.8%
2024 Q144.9%53.1%58.8%
2024 Q238.3%60.0%64.4%
2024 Q350.7%48.0%64.2%
2024 Q464.3%33.9%65.6%
2025 Q146.3%46.3%62.1%
2025 Q250.8%47.5%65.0%
2025 Q360.4%37.7%62.5%
2025 Q465.2%29.0%64.7%
2026 Q164.4%35.6%60.6%
2026 Q250.8%36.5%62.7%

Share of applications granted

Portsmouth against England

  • Portsmouth
  • England
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
QuarterPortsmouthEngland
2008 Q180.2%85.1%
2008 Q282.9%86.1%
2008 Q382.1%86.3%
2008 Q485.5%85.3%
2009 Q186.5%85.9%
2009 Q290.5%86.8%
2009 Q391.5%87.4%
2009 Q481.1%86.9%
2010 Q180.0%87.0%
2010 Q291.3%88.0%
2010 Q383.1%87.7%
2010 Q496.6%87.5%
2011 Q176.0%87.9%
2011 Q288.8%88.5%
2011 Q395.1%88.3%
2011 Q496.8%88.3%
2012 Q180.9%88.2%
2012 Q288.7%89.2%
2012 Q391.4%89.0%
2012 Q484.5%88.9%
2013 Q183.9%89.8%
2013 Q285.9%90.6%
2013 Q390.9%90.3%
2013 Q486.9%89.6%
2014 Q179.7%89.8%
2014 Q279.8%90.5%
2014 Q381.3%90.0%
2014 Q484.8%89.2%
2015 Q186.4%89.3%
2015 Q280.0%90.2%
2015 Q385.9%90.0%
2015 Q479.3%89.2%
2016 Q182.6%90.0%
2016 Q284.4%90.3%
2016 Q382.1%90.2%
2016 Q485.3%89.7%
2017 Q188.2%89.9%
2017 Q276.9%90.5%
2017 Q385.6%90.0%
2017 Q487.1%90.1%
2018 Q183.6%90.5%
2018 Q288.8%91.0%
2018 Q381.8%91.2%
2018 Q480.5%90.5%
2019 Q188.9%90.3%
2019 Q288.3%91.0%
2019 Q385.6%90.6%
2019 Q491.6%89.8%
2020 Q188.3%89.9%
2020 Q286.2%90.2%
2020 Q384.4%90.6%
2020 Q483.3%90.3%
2021 Q178.8%90.9%
2021 Q282.7%91.2%
2021 Q392.4%91.0%
2021 Q486.7%90.1%
2022 Q184.1%90.0%
2022 Q290.4%90.4%
2022 Q379.3%89.8%
2022 Q490.2%89.4%
2023 Q184.4%89.3%
2023 Q290.3%89.2%
2023 Q382.4%88.6%
2023 Q485.4%88.2%
2024 Q183.7%88.2%
2024 Q285.0%89.1%
2024 Q386.7%89.4%
2024 Q480.4%88.6%
2025 Q194.4%89.3%
2025 Q288.5%90.4%
2025 Q390.6%90.1%
2025 Q492.8%90.1%
2026 Q182.2%90.6%
2026 Q290.5%91.0%

How long decisions took

Householder decisions over the last 12 months

  • Within 8 weeks60.0%
  • 8 to 13 weeks1.3%
  • 13 to 26 weeks0.9%
  • Over 26 weeks3.5%
  • Extension of time agreed34.3%
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
Time takenDecisions
Within 8 weeks138
8 to 13 weeks3
13 to 26 weeks2
Over 26 weeks8
Extension of time agreed79

Appeals

Decided
12
Allowed
16.7%
Median wait
10 weeks

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

Refusals overturned at appeal

9.7% of refusals were later overturned at appeal (July 2021 to June 2026): 19 appeals allowed against 196 refusals.

109th 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 40 larger extension notifications between July 2025 and June 2026, 26 needed no approval, 10 were approved and 4 were refused.

Where Portsmouth had to decide, it refused 4 of 14 (28.6%), against 56.1% across England (2,210 of 3,939 decided).

Figures as first published (provisional).

MHCLG live table PDR 1.

Enforcement

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

0.02 per 1,000 homes, against 0.17 across England. 20th 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

25 conservation areas: Campbell Road, Southsea, Castle Road, Craneswater and Eastern Parade, Southsea, East Southsea, Eastney Barracks, Essex Road, Guildhall and Victoria Park, Gunwharf, Highland Terrace, Hilsea Lines, HM Naval Base and St George's Square, King Street and 13 more.

Portsmouth 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

1,035 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 11.0 per 1,000 homes, about 0.2 householder decisions per firm a year.

114th 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.

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 Portsmouth

How long does planning permission take in Portsmouth?

Portsmouth decided 60.0% 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 Portsmouth?

25 conservation areas: Campbell Road, Southsea, Castle Road, Craneswater and Eastern Parade, Southsea, East Southsea, Eastney Barracks, Essex Road, Guildhall and Victoria Park, Gunwharf, Highland Terrace, Hilsea Lines, HM Naval Base and St George's Square, King Street and 13 more. Most councils publish a conservation area map showing whether a street is inside one.

How many builders are there in Portsmouth?

1,035 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 11.0 per 1,000 homes, about 0.2 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 Portsmouth?

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 Portsmouth

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

Median price per m²

£3,142

6,453 sales

28% below South East

Homes sold rated EPC A to C

42.4%

Median energy score 67

10.2 points below South East

Value added by extending, per m²

£1,109

8.5% on the sale price

54% below South East

Energy upgrade, no extension

+2.8%

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

1.4 points below South East

The median home sold in Portsmouth was £260,000 for 84 m² of floor space. Price per m² is up 42% since 2015 (£2,203 to £3,137 per m², 2025). Across all 71,910 homes with a certificate, 49.0% are rated A to C on their latest one.

268 houses here were extended between two sales (second sale 2016 to 2026), adding a median 26 m². They sold for a median 8.5% more than similar unextended houses, £1,109 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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