The London borough of Hillingdon is the most difficult area to get planning permission granted, with 38% of applications rejected, Trade Fix Direct research has revealed.
Trade Fix Direct investigated which areas of the UK you were most and least likely to get planning permission granted, by analysing Government data on historical planning applications between 2000 and 2024.
Planning permission was least likely to be granted in London, with London boroughs ranking in all of the top 10 positions, and 18 of the top 20 positions, for planning permission refusals.
Projects in Hillingdon, London, were least likely to get planning permission granted, with just 62% of requests approved between 2000 and 2024.
This was closely followed by London districts Enfield and Newham, where fewer than 63% of planning permission requests were granted.
Projects in the City of London were most likely to get planning permission granted, with nearly 98% of requests approved between 2000 and 2024.
Second was Cumberland, where 96% of requests have been approved, with County Durham ranking in third with 95% of planning permission requests granted.
Newham, London, saw a 38% increase in the number of planning permission applications granted, from 39% in 2000 to 77% in 2024; it has become easier to receive planning permission there than any other district.
Next was Blackburn with Darwen, where there was a 32% increase in the number of approved planning applications.
London district Ealing ranked third, where there was a 25% increase in the number of granted planning permission requests.
Barking and Dagenham saw a 33% decrease in the number of planning permission applications granted, from 91% in 2000 to just 58% in 2024; it has become more difficult to receive planning permission here than any other area.
Second was Gloucester, where there has been a 26% decrease in the number of approved planning applications.
Rossendale, in the North West, ranked third with a 23% decrease in the number of granted planning permission requests.
Paul Kershaw at Trade Fix Direct said: “If you’re looking to start a renovation or construction project, it’s important to find out whether you will require planning permission and to request this, where applicable.
“To give yourself the best chance of success, it’s always good to be in the know about acceptance rates and to follow best practices when making an application.”
He added: “If you don’t apply for planning permission, and your project requires it, you can be served an ‘enforcement notice’, which effectively instructs you to reverse all the changes that you have made.
“If you fail to comply with the enforcement notice, and have no outstanding appeal once the period for compliance has passed, you could face up to an unlimited fine.”
