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Wigan planning statistics

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

How long does planning permission take in Wigan?

Wigan decided 55.8% of householder applications within 8 weeks without an extension in the year to June 2026, against 62.7% across England.

Wigan is highlighted on the map. See on the map

Within 8 weeks, no extension

55.8%

202nd of 297

6.9 points slower than England

Granted

88.2%

223rd of 297

2.3 points lower than England

Extension of time

42.9%

228th of 297

10.6 points higher than England

Decisions (12 months)

389

Wigan decided 389 householder applications in the year to June 2026, granting 88.2%.

55.8% were decided within 8 weeks with no extension, against 62.7% across England (202nd of 297 for speed).

A further 42.9% were decided under an extension of time agreed with the applicant.

That is up from 43.3% a year earlier.

Of 13 householder appeals decided in the same period, 7.7% were allowed.

How quickly decisions are made

Wigan 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 Q194.4%0.0%89.5%
2008 Q296.1%0.0%89.4%
2008 Q398.4%0.0%89.7%
2008 Q494.1%0.0%90.3%
2009 Q197.5%0.0%90.3%
2009 Q297.9%0.0%91.7%
2009 Q396.3%0.0%91.4%
2009 Q494.8%0.0%91.0%
2010 Q195.6%0.0%88.8%
2010 Q295.2%0.0%89.8%
2010 Q395.6%0.0%88.4%
2010 Q494.7%0.0%87.7%
2011 Q195.9%0.0%86.4%
2011 Q291.6%0.0%85.9%
2011 Q393.9%0.0%84.9%
2011 Q495.2%0.0%84.9%
2012 Q192.6%0.0%83.7%
2012 Q299.4%0.0%84.2%
2012 Q392.7%0.0%82.9%
2012 Q495.7%0.0%85.2%
2013 Q198.4%0.0%85.7%
2013 Q297.4%0.0%86.3%
2013 Q395.2%0.0%85.3%
2013 Q489.0%0.0%86.3%
2014 Q194.7%0.0%85.4%
2014 Q297.4%0.0%84.9%
2014 Q394.8%2.6%82.5%
2014 Q492.4%5.9%82.1%
2015 Q192.2%5.2%80.4%
2015 Q295.1%2.1%80.6%
2015 Q395.4%3.3%79.2%
2015 Q488.0%10.4%80.0%
2016 Q195.3%3.9%78.3%
2016 Q293.6%6.4%79.8%
2016 Q389.1%10.9%77.7%
2016 Q485.6%13.1%78.0%
2017 Q182.0%17.1%77.3%
2017 Q278.7%18.7%78.5%
2017 Q379.1%18.9%76.1%
2017 Q476.9%20.3%77.1%
2018 Q171.7%26.8%73.7%
2018 Q269.3%24.2%74.0%
2018 Q353.3%40.8%72.7%
2018 Q470.6%23.5%72.7%
2019 Q166.9%31.4%69.9%
2019 Q288.0%10.3%72.1%
2019 Q384.8%13.4%69.6%
2019 Q481.0%18.2%71.5%
2020 Q183.3%15.9%68.4%
2020 Q293.5%5.8%63.9%
2020 Q379.1%19.9%63.8%
2020 Q484.0%15.1%65.3%
2021 Q181.2%18.8%59.4%
2021 Q280.9%17.2%58.4%
2021 Q369.1%28.3%53.1%
2021 Q466.5%32.3%53.0%
2022 Q18.7%87.8%51.6%
2022 Q218.2%81.2%56.0%
2022 Q340.9%57.0%53.3%
2022 Q455.2%42.9%54.1%
2023 Q151.3%46.1%53.5%
2023 Q249.5%47.5%58.5%
2023 Q346.9%47.8%59.0%
2023 Q429.3%56.0%59.8%
2024 Q134.6%59.8%58.8%
2024 Q240.4%57.7%64.4%
2024 Q338.2%56.4%64.2%
2024 Q443.4%55.6%65.6%
2025 Q142.3%57.7%62.1%
2025 Q249.1%50.0%65.0%
2025 Q346.9%52.1%62.5%
2025 Q465.3%32.6%64.7%
2026 Q154.7%44.2%60.6%
2026 Q256.3%42.9%62.7%

Share of applications granted

Wigan against England

  • Wigan
  • England
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
QuarterWiganEngland
2008 Q191.1%85.1%
2008 Q294.5%86.1%
2008 Q394.5%86.3%
2008 Q491.9%85.3%
2009 Q195.0%85.9%
2009 Q294.9%86.8%
2009 Q392.0%87.4%
2009 Q487.4%86.9%
2010 Q195.6%87.0%
2010 Q297.0%88.0%
2010 Q396.1%87.7%
2010 Q490.8%87.5%
2011 Q194.3%87.9%
2011 Q293.5%88.5%
2011 Q395.1%88.3%
2011 Q493.2%88.3%
2012 Q194.2%88.2%
2012 Q298.7%89.2%
2012 Q395.4%89.0%
2012 Q495.7%88.9%
2013 Q197.6%89.8%
2013 Q298.7%90.6%
2013 Q3100.0%90.3%
2013 Q499.2%89.6%
2014 Q199.1%89.8%
2014 Q298.7%90.5%
2014 Q398.7%90.0%
2014 Q496.6%89.2%
2015 Q199.1%89.3%
2015 Q298.6%90.2%
2015 Q398.0%90.0%
2015 Q4100.0%89.2%
2016 Q199.2%90.0%
2016 Q299.4%90.3%
2016 Q398.7%90.2%
2016 Q498.8%89.7%
2017 Q198.2%89.9%
2017 Q299.3%90.5%
2017 Q399.3%90.0%
2017 Q498.6%90.1%
2018 Q1100.0%90.5%
2018 Q2100.0%91.0%
2018 Q399.3%91.2%
2018 Q496.8%90.5%
2019 Q195.8%90.3%
2019 Q296.6%91.0%
2019 Q390.2%90.6%
2019 Q488.3%89.8%
2020 Q188.6%89.9%
2020 Q295.0%90.2%
2020 Q389.8%90.6%
2020 Q488.2%90.3%
2021 Q188.7%90.9%
2021 Q288.7%91.2%
2021 Q395.8%91.0%
2021 Q494.9%90.1%
2022 Q198.3%90.0%
2022 Q298.7%90.4%
2022 Q397.8%89.8%
2022 Q497.4%89.4%
2023 Q194.8%89.3%
2023 Q294.1%89.2%
2023 Q389.4%88.6%
2023 Q490.5%88.2%
2024 Q183.2%88.2%
2024 Q291.3%89.1%
2024 Q390.0%89.4%
2024 Q477.8%88.6%
2025 Q185.6%89.3%
2025 Q288.4%90.4%
2025 Q388.5%90.1%
2025 Q485.3%90.1%
2026 Q183.7%90.6%
2026 Q293.8%91.0%

How long decisions took

Householder decisions over the last 12 months

  • Within 8 weeks55.8%
  • 8 to 13 weeks1.3%
  • 13 to 26 weeks0.0%
  • Over 26 weeks0.0%
  • Extension of time agreed42.9%
Source: MHCLG PS2, OGL v3. Chart: buildwiz.uk
Show data
Time takenDecisions
Within 8 weeks217
8 to 13 weeks5
13 to 26 weeks0
Over 26 weeks0
Extension of time agreed167

Appeals

Decided
13
Allowed
7.7%
Median wait
13 weeks

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

Refusals overturned at appeal

4.8% of refusals were later overturned at appeal (July 2021 to June 2026): 10 appeals allowed against 197 refusals.

Split decisions count as half.

32nd 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 30 larger extension notifications between July 2025 and June 2026, 26 needed no approval, 2 were approved and 2 were refused.

Fewer than 10 decided in the period.

Figures as first published (provisional).

MHCLG live table PDR 1.

Enforcement

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

0.08 per 1,000 homes, against 0.17 across England. 110th 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

23 conservation areas: Ashton-in-Makerfield Town Centre, Astley Village, Tyldesley, Bridgewater Canal, Leigh, Church Lane, Shevington, Dicconson, Wigan, Golborne Town Centre, Green Hill, Wigan, Haigh Village, Haigh, Hindley Town Centre, Howe Bridge, Atherton, Leigh Bridge, Leigh Town Centre and 11 more.

Wigan 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

1,460 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 9.4 per 1,000 homes, about 0.3 householder decisions per firm a year.

117th 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 Wigan

How long does planning permission take in Wigan?

Wigan decided 55.8% 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 Wigan?

23 conservation areas: Ashton-in-Makerfield Town Centre, Astley Village, Tyldesley, Bridgewater Canal, Leigh, Church Lane, Shevington, Dicconson, Wigan, Golborne Town Centre, Green Hill, Wigan, Haigh Village, Haigh, Hindley Town Centre, Howe Bridge, Atherton, Leigh Bridge, Leigh Town Centre and 11 more. Most councils publish a conservation area map showing whether a street is inside one.

How many builders are there in Wigan?

1,460 registered building and trade firms in 2026, 9.4 per 1,000 homes, about 0.3 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 Wigan?

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 Wigan

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

Median price per m²

£2,410

12,762 sales

8% below North West

Homes sold rated EPC A to C

52.7%

Median energy score 69

4.8 points above North West

Value added by extending, per m²

£794

11.1% on the sale price

41% below North West

Energy upgrade, no extension

+6.0%

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

In line with North West

The median home sold in Wigan was £195,000 for 82 m² of floor space. Price per m² is up 63% since 2015 (£1,533 to £2,496 per m², 2025). Across all 106,163 homes with a certificate, 49.9% are rated A to C on their latest one.

507 houses here were extended between two sales (second sale 2016 to 2026), adding a median 26 m². They sold for a median 11.1% more than similar unextended houses, £794 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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