Planiverse / Authorities / Bolton

Planning permission in Bolton

In the last 12 months, 81.7% of home project applications were approved in Bolton (208 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about nine weeks (median 63 days).

Across all application types, 83.0% of 3,163 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on Bolton's public planning register. Data last updated: 23 August 2026.

4,645Total applications
3,163Decided
83.0%Approval rate (of decided)
2,624 Approved+539 Refused+102 Withdrawn+70 Pending+1,310 Outcome not determined=4,645 Total
Reports for Bolton are coming soon.

We are not yet generating property reports for Bolton. You can still look up an address to see its planning constraints (conservation area, listed building, Article 4 direction, flood zone), and leave your email to hear when Bolton reports go live.

Look up a property in Bolton See a sample report
By Development Category

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

CategoryDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Full planning applications 1,405 1,157 248
82.3%
Home extensions and alterations (householder) 532 440 92
82.7%
Protected tree works (TPO) 437 388 49
88.8%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) 176 146 30
83.0%
Larger extensions (householder prior approval) 128 94 34
73.4%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a) 102 88 14
86.3%
Advertisement Consent 93 78 15
83.9%
Tree works in a conservation area 74 74 0 no refusals recorded
Listed Building Consent 52 41 11
78.8%
Changing a planning condition (S73) 30 26 4
86.7%
Prior approval (permitted development) 30 18 12
60.0%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use) 25 17 8
68.0%
Other* 79 57 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.

* Other combines smaller categories: Phone masts and telecoms (13), Permission in Principle (13), Outline Planning (11), PA -solar panels non domestic roofs (11), Barn to home conversion (prior approval, Class Q) (9), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (8), Prior Not - Agricult or Demo 28 days (8), Change of Use (4), Discharging planning conditions (2).

Quarterly Trend

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

QuarterDecidedApprovedApproval rate
Q3 2023 56 40
71.4%
Q4 2023 215 171
79.5%
Q1 2024 425 371
87.3%
Q2 2024 365 312
85.5%
Q3 2024 267 229
85.8%
Q4 2024 228 196
86.0%
Q1 2025 222 178
80.2%
Q2 2025 239 195
81.6%
Q3 2025 249 205
82.3%
Q4 2025 207 168
81.2%
Q1 2026 232 184
79.3%
Q2 2026 27 19
70.4%
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress) 6 5 sample too small
By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 367 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 75.4% in Queens Park & Central to 90.7% in Horwich North, a gap of 15.3 percentage points.

WardDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Heaton, Lostock & Chew Moor 418 347 71
83.0%
Queens Park & Central 232 175 57
75.4%
Astley Bridge 211 162 49
76.8%
Bromley Cross 200 171 29
85.5%
Great Lever 172 144 28
83.7%
Smithills 160 126 34
78.8%
Hulton 155 128 27
82.6%
Halliwell 151 123 28
81.5%
Horwich North 150 136 14
90.7%
Bradshaw 148 123 25
83.1%
Horwich South & Blackrod 138 120 18
87.0%
Westhoughton North & Hunger Hill 131 112 19
85.5%
Frequently asked questions
What is the planning approval rate in Bolton?
In the last 12 months, 81.7% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Bolton, based on 208 decided applications. Across all application types, 83.0% of 3,163 applications decided since January 2023 were approved.
How long does a planning decision take in Bolton?
The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Bolton in the last 12 months was 63 days (about nine weeks). Times vary case by case.
Do I need planning permission in Bolton?
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 Bolton?
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 Bolton are coming soon. Look up an address now to see its constraints, and join the waitlist.

Look up a property in Bolton See a sample report