Planning permission in Adur

In the last 12 months, 96.6% of home project applications were approved in Adur (118 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about eight weeks (median 56 days).

Across all application types, 95.8% of 1,279 applications decided since February 2023 were approved. Based on Adur's public planning register. Data last updated: 8 April 2026.

1,434Total applications

1,279Decided

95.8%Approval rate (of decided)

1,225 Approved+54 Refused+47 Withdrawn+38 Pending+70 Outcome not determined=1,434 Total

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By Development Category

All applications on record, not only the last 12 months.

Category	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Home extensions and alterations (householder)	705	678	27	96.2%
Residential Extension	136	131	5	96.3%
Full planning applications	68	57	11	83.8%
Discharging planning conditions	68	68	0	no refusals recorded
Conservation Area	56	56	0	no refusals recorded
Change of Use	37	35	2	94.6%
Trees	32	31	1	96.9%
Non-Material Amendment	25	25	0	no refusals recorded
Demolition	22	19	3	86.4%
Listed Building	20	20	0	no refusals recorded
Other*	110	105	5	mixed types

Discharging planning conditions: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

Conservation Area: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

Non-Material Amendment: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

Listed Building: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) (19), Commercial (11), Lawful Development (11), Changing a planning condition (S73) (10), Advertisement Consent (9), Residential New Build (8), County Council Reg 3 Application (7), Signage (6), Tree works in a conservation area (5), Prior Approval (5), Larger extensions (householder prior approval) (4), Conversion to Flats (4), Certificate of lawfulness (existing use) (3), Protected tree works (TPO) (3), Adur Reg 3 Application (3), Listed Building Consent (1), Phone masts and telecoms (1).

Quarterly Trend

The most recent three years. Earlier decisions are included in the totals above but not in this chart.

Quarter	Decided	Approved	Approval rate
Q3 2023	43	43	100.0%
Q4 2023	140	136	97.1%
Q1 2024	118	112	94.9%
Q2 2024	125	121	96.8%
Q3 2024	95	87	91.6%
Q4 2024	82	76	92.7%
Q1 2025	109	101	92.7%
Q2 2025	105	100	95.2%
Q3 2025	102	99	97.1%
Q4 2025	92	89	96.7%
Q1 2026	85	81	95.3%
Q2 2026	2	2	sample too small

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 117 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 89.5% in Cokeham to 98.9% in Eastbrook, a gap of 9.4 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Marine Adur	136	133	3	97.8%
Southwick Green	119	114	5	95.8%
St. Nicolas	115	112	3	97.4%
St Mary's	111	106	5	95.5%
Buckingham	104	99	5	95.2%
Manor	95	92	3	96.8%
Widewater	94	92	2	97.9%
Eastbrook	89	88	1	98.9%
Hillside	86	84	2	97.7%
Cokeham	86	77	9	89.5%
Mash Barn	65	59	6	90.8%
Peverel	62	57	5	91.9%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in Adur?

In the last 12 months, 96.6% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Adur, based on 118 decided applications. Across all application types, 95.8% of 1,279 applications decided since February 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in Adur?

The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Adur in the last 12 months was 56 days (about eight weeks). Times vary case by case.

Do I need planning permission in Adur?

It depends on the project and the property. Many home projects fall under permitted development rights, but constraints such as conservation areas, listed buildings and Article 4 directions change what needs permission at a specific address. See our guides to permitted development rights and Article 4 directions.

Do I need a planning consultant in Adur?

Many home projects do not need one. A straightforward extension on an unconstrained property is often handled directly with the council, or with an architect or agent preparing the drawings. A consultant is more likely to earn their fee where the site is constrained, the council has refused similar schemes, or an appeal is in prospect. Understanding your property's constraints and the council's recent decisions first makes any conversation with a professional a better-informed one.

Planning guides

Not sure what you can build without planning permission? See our guides to permitted development rights, Article 4 directions and planning costs.

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