Planning permission in Barnet

We don't yet have enough recent decisions in Barnet to show a reliable approval rate. The figures below cover all application types on record.

Across all application types, 84.4% of 6,237 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on Barnet's public planning register. Data last updated: 13 May 2026.

7,807Total applications
6,237Decided
84.4%Approval rate (of decided)
5,261 Approved+976 Refused+321 Withdrawn+1,132 Pending+117 Outcome not determined=7,807 Total
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Decision Level
6,003Delegated
105Committee
By Development Category

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

CategoryDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Home extensions and alterations (householder) 1,596 1,381 215
86.5%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) 962 818 144
85.0%
Discharging planning conditions 766 744 22
97.1%
Full planning applications 715 501 214
70.1%
Tree works in a conservation area 444 444 0 no refusals recorded
Prior approval (permitted development) 433 263 170
60.7%
Protected tree works (TPO) 342 299 43
87.4%
Licence Notification 208 208 0 no refusals recorded
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a) 125 116 9
92.8%
Changing a planning condition (S73) 124 99 25
79.8%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use) 117 99 18
84.6%
Retention/Continued Use 117 65 52
55.6%
Advertisement Consent 109 96 13
88.1%
Listed Building Consent 86 75 11
87.2%
Neighbouring Authority Consultation 29 27 2
93.1%
Phone masts and telecoms 20 4 16
20.0%
Other* 44 22 22 mixed types

Tree works in a conservation area: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

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

* Other combines smaller categories: Adding storeys (prior approval, Class AA) (15), Outline Planning (10), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (7), Brent Cross Specific Application (7), Environmental impact screening and scoping (4), Modify / Discharge Legal Agreement (1).

Quarterly Trend

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

QuarterDecidedApprovedApproval rate
Q3 2023 479 400
83.5%
Q4 2023 1,318 1,097
83.2%
Q1 2024 1,230 1,051
85.4%
Q2 2024 543 447
82.3%
Q3 2024 59 48
81.4%
Q4 2024 186 182
97.8%
Q1 2025 720 606
84.2%
Q2 2025 397 329
82.9%
Q3 2025 34 28
82.4%
Q4 2025 15 13 sample too small
Q1 2026 9 9 sample too small
Q2 2026 3 3 sample too small
By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 651 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 78.9% in Finchley Church End to 95.6% in Garden Suburb, a gap of 16.7 percentage points.

WardDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Garden Suburb 620 593 27
95.6%
Hendon 397 323 74
81.4%
Childs Hill 388 325 63
83.8%
Mill Hill 374 317 57
84.8%
High Barnet 364 292 72
80.2%
Totteridge & Woodside 329 298 31
90.6%
East Barnet 328 269 59
82.0%
West Hendon 303 266 37
87.8%
Golders Green 290 239 51
82.4%
West Finchley 268 222 46
82.8%
Edgware 268 213 55
79.5%
Finchley Church End 251 198 53
78.9%
Frequently asked questions
What is the planning approval rate in Barnet?
Across all application types, 84.4% of 6,237 applications decided in Barnet since January 2023 were approved.
Do I need planning permission in Barnet?
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 Barnet?
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.

Reports for Barnet are coming soon. Look up an address now to see its constraints, and join the waitlist.