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National Parks

South Downs National Park planning statistics

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

Within 8 weeks, no extension

39.4%

268th of 297

23.3 points slower than England

Granted

92.1%

146th of 297

1.6 points higher than England

Extension of time

52.9%

266th of 297

20.6 points higher than England

Decisions (12 months)

813

South Downs National Park decided 813 householder applications in the year to June 2026, granting 92.1%.

39.4% were decided within 8 weeks with no extension, against 62.7% across England (268th of 297 for speed).

A further 52.9% were decided under an extension of time agreed with the applicant.

That is down from 46.6% a year earlier.

Of 21 householder appeals decided in the same period, 42.9% were allowed.

How quickly decisions are made

South Downs National Park 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
2013 Q284.6%0.0%86.3%
2013 Q389.1%0.0%85.3%
2013 Q479.6%0.0%86.3%
2014 Q176.8%0.0%85.4%
2014 Q280.2%0.3%84.9%
2014 Q371.1%3.0%82.5%
2014 Q474.7%6.0%82.1%
2015 Q171.0%10.2%80.4%
2015 Q267.8%10.1%80.6%
2015 Q374.9%9.1%79.2%
2015 Q478.4%14.4%80.0%
2016 Q168.0%23.8%78.3%
2016 Q273.8%20.8%79.8%
2016 Q366.3%29.9%77.7%
2016 Q463.1%27.7%78.0%
2017 Q167.6%28.2%77.3%
2017 Q272.8%23.5%78.5%
2017 Q371.6%24.3%76.1%
2017 Q471.9%21.0%77.1%
2018 Q169.1%26.7%73.7%
2018 Q266.4%26.6%74.0%
2018 Q357.3%35.6%72.7%
2018 Q455.6%37.0%72.7%
2019 Q155.7%37.5%69.9%
2019 Q256.8%33.2%72.1%
2019 Q357.2%35.5%69.6%
2019 Q456.6%38.3%71.5%
2020 Q148.4%44.7%68.4%
2020 Q246.6%49.4%63.9%
2020 Q344.9%51.3%63.8%
2020 Q440.7%46.7%65.3%
2021 Q133.1%54.9%59.4%
2021 Q233.8%57.2%58.4%
2021 Q333.7%57.2%53.1%
2021 Q433.4%50.0%53.0%
2022 Q130.4%58.5%51.6%
2022 Q233.4%55.1%56.0%
2022 Q330.4%61.1%53.3%
2022 Q438.4%56.2%54.1%
2023 Q133.1%61.2%53.5%
2023 Q243.2%48.5%58.5%
2023 Q339.6%55.7%59.0%
2023 Q441.9%53.8%59.8%
2024 Q142.7%53.6%58.8%
2024 Q245.4%49.2%64.4%
2024 Q343.2%46.2%64.2%
2024 Q456.1%40.4%65.6%
2025 Q146.5%52.4%62.1%
2025 Q240.2%57.9%65.0%
2025 Q334.6%56.5%62.5%
2025 Q442.6%48.5%64.7%
2026 Q136.8%57.0%60.6%
2026 Q243.6%49.5%62.7%

Share of applications granted

South Downs National Park against England

  • South Downs National Park
  • England
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
QuarterSouth Downs National ParkEngland
2013 Q291.5%90.6%
2013 Q393.4%90.3%
2013 Q492.6%89.6%
2014 Q190.6%89.8%
2014 Q291.7%90.5%
2014 Q394.9%90.0%
2014 Q491.7%89.2%
2015 Q193.6%89.3%
2015 Q292.2%90.2%
2015 Q392.2%90.0%
2015 Q488.3%89.2%
2016 Q192.9%90.0%
2016 Q293.5%90.3%
2016 Q392.6%90.2%
2016 Q492.0%89.7%
2017 Q193.9%89.9%
2017 Q292.1%90.5%
2017 Q394.9%90.0%
2017 Q489.7%90.1%
2018 Q189.1%90.5%
2018 Q290.4%91.0%
2018 Q392.9%91.2%
2018 Q491.9%90.5%
2019 Q194.5%90.3%
2019 Q292.5%91.0%
2019 Q394.7%90.6%
2019 Q494.5%89.8%
2020 Q194.7%89.9%
2020 Q297.6%90.2%
2020 Q394.3%90.6%
2020 Q494.7%90.3%
2021 Q195.9%90.9%
2021 Q295.5%91.2%
2021 Q395.0%91.0%
2021 Q492.6%90.1%
2022 Q194.0%90.0%
2022 Q293.0%90.4%
2022 Q392.6%89.8%
2022 Q493.6%89.4%
2023 Q193.5%89.3%
2023 Q292.0%89.2%
2023 Q395.0%88.6%
2023 Q494.9%88.2%
2024 Q192.1%88.2%
2024 Q290.0%89.1%
2024 Q389.3%89.4%
2024 Q492.5%88.6%
2025 Q193.0%89.3%
2025 Q296.7%90.4%
2025 Q393.5%90.1%
2025 Q491.6%90.1%
2026 Q192.2%90.6%
2026 Q291.2%91.0%

How long decisions took

Householder decisions over the last 12 months

  • Within 8 weeks39.4%
  • 8 to 13 weeks2.0%
  • 13 to 26 weeks3.9%
  • Over 26 weeks1.8%
  • Extension of time agreed52.9%
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
Time takenDecisions
Within 8 weeks320
8 to 13 weeks16
13 to 26 weeks32
Over 26 weeks15
Extension of time agreed430

Appeals

Decided
21
Allowed
42.9%
Median wait
22 weeks

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

Local constraints

  • South Downs National Park has published 126 conservation areas.
  • South Downs National Park has not published Article 4 data to the national planning data platform.

Both can remove permitted development rights. Not every council has published its data yet, so check with the council before relying on permitted development.

Next steps for your extension

Compare every council · How we calculate these figures

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