The proportion of planning applications approved after appeal, having initially been rejected, was 18% in 2022, the lowest level seen in the past five years, data from Searchland has revealed.
Searchland analysed the number of planning applications submitted on an annual basis, what proportion were initially rejected before being appealed, and the success rate of these appeals.
In 2022, 73,515 planning applications were rejected across the UK, versus 560,591 that were approved.
Reasons for rejections might include loss of privacy due to the invasion of a neighbouring property, or loss of light.
Applications may also be rejected for environmental reasons, such as the protection of trees or natural wildlife habitats.
It may be that the materials chosen for development are hazardous, that the proposal restricts road access, or there are wider safety concerns such as air pollution.
Rejections are also common for those looking to develop listed buildings as they require additional, specific consents and planning controls.
Of the 73,515 planning applications that were rejected last year, 2,210 were appealed, accounting for 3% of all rejected applications.
However, just 392 of these appeals were successful, with the original decision being overturned, a success rate of just 18%.
This was the lowest success rate in five years, falling from 28% the previous year and down from a peak of 30% seen in 2020.
Mitchell Fasanya, co-founder and CEO of Searchland, said: “There are a myriad of reasons why a planning application may be rejected, and these range from some of the more basic considerations such as encroachment on a neighbouring property, to the more complex such as the use of particular materials or wider environmental concerns.
“In most cases, these issues should have been ironed out prior to the application being made, however, there is an opportunity to address any concerns raised and reapply by way of appeal.
“However, our figures show that in the current landscape, the chances of overturning a rejected application are the lowest they have been in the last five years, with less than one in five appeals being successful.”
