Blackburn with Darwen

In the last 12 months, 97.1% of full planning applications were approved in Blackburn with Darwen (277 decided). A typical decision takes about eight weeks (median 58 days).

Across all application types on record (2023-04-28–2026-05-11): 94.9% of 2,015 decisions approved.

2,470Total applications

1,912Approved

103Refused

225Withdrawn

200Pending

94.9%Approval rate (all types)

Check a property in Blackburn with Darwen

Decision Level

1,920Delegated

146Withdrawn-Applicant

134Planning and Highways Committee

79Withdrawn-Council

1Decision from Appeal

By Development Category

Category	Total	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Full Planning Application	1,068	1,011	57	94.7%
Discharge of Conditions	241	229	12	95.0%
Tree Works (TPO)	182	173	9	95.1%
Non-Material Amendment (S96a)	84	82	2	97.6%
Variation/Removal of Conditions (S73)	76	74	2	97.4%
Householder	74	74	0	100.0%
Advertisement Consent	55	54	1	98.2%
Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed)	54	45	9	83.3%
Listed Building Consent	38	37	1	97.4%
Prior Approval (Other)	36	36	0	100.0%
Tree Works (Conservation Area)	25	24	1	96.0%
Certificate of Lawfulness (Existing)	21	19	2	90.5%
Prior Approval (Class Q — Agricultural to Residential)	21	21	0	100.0%
Enforcement	9	8	1	88.9%
Permission in Principle	8	3	5	37.5%
Environmental Impact Assessment (Screening/Scoping)	6	6	0	100.0%
Telecommunications	6	6	0	100.0%
Outline Planning	5	4	1	80.0%
Reserved Matters	2	2	0	100.0%
Variation of Legal Agreement/S106	2	2	0	100.0%
Prior Approval - Agricultural to Flexible Commercial Use	1	1	0	100.0%
Prior Approval - Agricultural Building	1	1	0	100.0%

Quarterly Trend

Quarter	Decided	Approved	Approval rate
2023-Q3	146	137	93.8%
2023-Q4	176	166	94.3%
2024-Q1	157	151	96.2%
2024-Q2	170	159	93.5%
2024-Q3	182	176	96.7%
2024-Q4	154	147	95.5%
2025-Q1	145	137	94.5%
2025-Q2	187	175	93.6%
2025-Q3	188	175	93.1%
2025-Q4	166	159	95.8%
2026-Q1	168	163	97.0%
2026-Q2	54	50	92.6%

By Ward

Ward	Total	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
West Pennine	283	270	13	95.4%
Blackburn Central	223	211	12	94.6%
Billinge & Beardwood	209	203	6	97.1%
Little Harwood & Whitebirk	139	137	2	98.6%
Livesey With Pleasington	135	133	2	98.5%
Roe Lee	127	118	9	92.9%
Blackburn South East	109	105	4	96.3%
Darwen West	95	92	3	96.8%
Shear Brow & Corporation Park	82	73	9	89.0%
Bastwell & Daisyfield	82	78	4	95.1%
Darwen South	81	79	2	97.5%
Audley & Queens Park	77	76	1	98.7%

Planning guides

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