West Suffolk planning statistics
Householder applications decided in the year to June 2026, compared with the rest of England.
How long does planning permission take in West Suffolk?
West Suffolk decided 53.3% of householder applications within 8 weeks without an extension in the year to June 2026, against 62.7% across England.
West Suffolk is highlighted on the map. See on the map
Within 8 weeks, no extension
53.3%
215th of 297
9.4 points slower than England
Granted
95.6%
71st of 297
5.1 points higher than England
Extension of time
30.5%
146th of 297
1.8 points lower than England
Decisions (12 months)
475
West Suffolk decided 475 householder applications in the year to June 2026, granting 95.6%.
53.3% were decided within 8 weeks with no extension, against 62.7% across England (215th of 297 for speed).
A further 30.5% were decided under an extension of time agreed with the applicant.
Of 7 householder appeals decided in the same period, 28.6% were allowed.
How quickly decisions are made
West Suffolk against England, share of householder decisions each quarter
- Within 8 weeks, no extension
- Extension of time
- England, within 8 weeks
Show data
| Quarter | Within 8 weeks, no extension | Extension of time | England, within 8 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Q2 | 75.4% | 24.6% | 72.1% |
| 2019 Q3 | 68.2% | 31.2% | 69.6% |
| 2019 Q4 | 75.2% | 24.2% | 71.5% |
| 2020 Q1 | 63.9% | 36.1% | 68.4% |
| 2020 Q2 | 66.2% | 33.1% | 63.9% |
| 2020 Q3 | 60.6% | 38.7% | 63.8% |
| 2020 Q4 | 68.8% | 29.9% | 65.3% |
| 2021 Q1 | 68.0% | 32.0% | 59.4% |
| 2021 Q2 | 69.3% | 30.2% | 58.4% |
| 2021 Q3 | 61.4% | 38.6% | 53.1% |
| 2021 Q4 | 64.0% | 35.4% | 53.0% |
| 2022 Q1 | 61.1% | 38.9% | 51.6% |
| 2022 Q2 | 61.0% | 39.0% | 56.0% |
| 2022 Q3 | 56.0% | 39.4% | 53.3% |
| 2022 Q4 | 62.0% | 34.5% | 54.1% |
| 2023 Q1 | 50.3% | 40.6% | 53.5% |
| 2023 Q2 | 31.2% | 39.0% | 58.5% |
| 2023 Q3 | 47.4% | 43.7% | 59.0% |
| 2023 Q4 | 62.9% | 34.3% | 59.8% |
| 2024 Q1 | 48.8% | 43.8% | 58.8% |
| 2024 Q2 | 48.9% | 37.4% | 64.4% |
| 2024 Q3 | 57.0% | 36.4% | 64.2% |
| 2024 Q4 | 65.7% | 29.5% | 65.6% |
| 2025 Q1 | 50.5% | 34.9% | 62.1% |
| 2025 Q2 | 43.0% | 31.1% | 65.0% |
| 2025 Q3 | 62.0% | 31.7% | 62.5% |
| 2025 Q4 | 67.3% | 28.2% | 64.7% |
| 2026 Q1 | 51.0% | 36.3% | 60.6% |
| 2026 Q2 | 32.2% | 26.4% | 62.7% |
Share of applications granted
West Suffolk against England
- West Suffolk
- England
Show data
| Quarter | West Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Q2 | 95.5% | 91.0% |
| 2019 Q3 | 93.6% | 90.6% |
| 2019 Q4 | 94.0% | 89.8% |
| 2020 Q1 | 97.5% | 89.9% |
| 2020 Q2 | 96.6% | 90.2% |
| 2020 Q3 | 98.5% | 90.6% |
| 2020 Q4 | 96.8% | 90.3% |
| 2021 Q1 | 96.0% | 90.9% |
| 2021 Q2 | 96.2% | 91.2% |
| 2021 Q3 | 97.0% | 91.0% |
| 2021 Q4 | 96.3% | 90.1% |
| 2022 Q1 | 96.3% | 90.0% |
| 2022 Q2 | 97.9% | 90.4% |
| 2022 Q3 | 97.1% | 89.8% |
| 2022 Q4 | 95.8% | 89.4% |
| 2023 Q1 | 95.1% | 89.3% |
| 2023 Q2 | 93.5% | 89.2% |
| 2023 Q3 | 91.9% | 88.6% |
| 2023 Q4 | 99.0% | 88.2% |
| 2024 Q1 | 95.9% | 88.2% |
| 2024 Q2 | 98.5% | 89.1% |
| 2024 Q3 | 96.3% | 89.4% |
| 2024 Q4 | 96.2% | 88.6% |
| 2025 Q1 | 97.2% | 89.3% |
| 2025 Q2 | 96.3% | 90.4% |
| 2025 Q3 | 92.3% | 90.1% |
| 2025 Q4 | 98.2% | 90.1% |
| 2026 Q1 | 95.1% | 90.6% |
| 2026 Q2 | 97.5% | 91.0% |
How long decisions took
Householder decisions over the last 12 months
- Within 8 weeks53.3%
- 8 to 13 weeks15.6%
- 13 to 26 weeks0.2%
- Over 26 weeks0.4%
- Extension of time agreed30.5%
Show data
| Time taken | Decisions |
|---|---|
| Within 8 weeks | 253 |
| 8 to 13 weeks | 74 |
| 13 to 26 weeks | 1 |
| Over 26 weeks | 2 |
| Extension of time agreed | 145 |
Appeals
- Decided
- 7
- Allowed
- 28.6%
- Median wait
- 8 weeks
Householder appeals to the Planning Inspectorate decided in the same 12 months. England: 34.4% allowed.
Refusals overturned at appeal
8.6% of refusals were later overturned at appeal (July 2021 to June 2026): 9 appeals allowed against 105 refusals.
138th 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 6 larger extension notifications between July 2025 and June 2026, 5 needed no approval, 1 was approved and 0 were refused.
Fewer than 10 decided in the period.
Figures as first published (provisional).
MHCLG live table PDR 1.
Enforcement
4 planning enforcement notices issued in the year to June 2026.
0.05 per 1,000 homes, against 0.17 across England. 67th 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
48 conservation areas: Ampton, Bardwell, Barnham, Barton Mills, Brandon, Bury St Edmunds Town Centre, Bury St Edmunds Victoria Street, Cavendish, Clare, Dalham, Denston, Elveden and 36 more.
West Suffolk 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
945 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 11.1 per 1,000 homes, about 0.5 householder decisions per firm a year.
107th 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.
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
- West Suffolk53.3%
- East Cambridgeshire72.6%
- South Cambridgeshire86.0%
- Braintree78.1%
- Breckland80.0%
- King’s Lynn and West Norfolk87.0%
- Babergh71.2%
- Mid Suffolk73.7%
- England62.7%
Granted
- West Suffolk95.6%
- East Cambridgeshire91.2%
- South Cambridgeshire95.7%
- Braintree91.6%
- Breckland98.2%
- King’s Lynn and West Norfolk94.8%
- Babergh91.2%
- Mid Suffolk94.1%
- England90.5%
Refusals overturned at appeal
- West Suffolk8.6%
- East Cambridgeshire10.3%
- South Cambridgeshire8.2%
- Braintree9.9%
- Breckland13.3%
- King’s Lynn and West Norfolk6.9%
- Babergh10.0%
- Mid Suffolk12.4%
- England8.9%
Registered building firms per 1,000 homes
- West Suffolk11.1
- East Cambridgeshire14.3
- South Cambridgeshire10.8
- Braintree15.6
- Breckland10.0
- King’s Lynn and West Norfolk11.7
- Babergh12.1
- Mid Suffolk12.4
- England median10.1
Questions about planning in West Suffolk
How long does planning permission take in West Suffolk?
West Suffolk decided 53.3% 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 West Suffolk?
48 conservation areas: Ampton, Bardwell, Barnham, Barton Mills, Brandon, Bury St Edmunds Town Centre, Bury St Edmunds Victoria Street, Cavendish, Clare, Dalham, Denston, Elveden and 36 more. Most councils publish a conservation area map showing whether a street is inside one.
How many builders are there in West Suffolk?
945 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 11.1 per 1,000 homes, about 0.5 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 West Suffolk?
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 West Suffolk
Homes sold July 2023 to June 2026, matched to the floor area and energy rating on their Energy Performance Certificate.
Median price per m²
£3,373
7,111 sales
14% below East of England
Homes sold rated EPC A to C
51.1%
Median energy score 69
1.5 points below East of England
Value added by extending, per m²
£1,810
16.9% on the sale price
10% below East of England
Energy upgrade, no extension
+4.3%
Sale-price uplift when the energy score rose 5+ points
In line with East of England
The median home sold in West Suffolk was £287,000 for 87 m² of floor space. Price per m² is up 37% since 2015 (£2,459 to £3,373 per m², 2025). Across all 63,130 homes with a certificate, 51.6% are rated A to C on their latest one.
394 houses here were extended between two sales (second sale 2016 to 2026), adding a median 28 m². They sold for a median 16.9% more than similar unextended houses, £1,810 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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