Planning permission in Brentwood

In the last 12 months, 82.6% of home project applications were approved in Brentwood (235 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about ten weeks (median 67 days).

Across all application types, 86.5% of 3,284 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on Brentwood's public planning register. Data last updated: 23 August 2026.

3,967Total applications

3,284Decided

86.5%Approval rate (of decided)

2,840 Approved+444 Refused+123 Withdrawn+519 Pending+41 Outcome not determined=3,967 Total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)	1,085	912	173	84.1%
Full planning applications	537	408	129	76.0%
Discharging planning conditions	438	431	7	98.4%
Protected tree works (TPO)	389	381	8	97.9%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	286	247	39	86.4%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a)	149	129	20	86.6%
Prior approval (permitted development)	129	108	21	83.7%
Listed Building Consent	70	56	14	80.0%
Advertisement Consent	66	58	8	87.9%
Tree works in a conservation area	55	55	0	no refusals recorded
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	40	32	8	80.0%
Other*	40	23	17	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: Pr Not (New Floors)Additional Storeys (15), Outline Planning (8), Phone masts and telecoms (5), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (4), Demolition (3), Forestry Development (1), Pr Not Dwellings on commerical detached (1), Prior Notification 42 Days Householder (1), Permission in Principle (1), Essex County Council (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	112	92	82.1%
Q4 2023	275	234	85.1%
Q1 2024	258	225	87.2%
Q2 2024	250	212	84.8%
Q3 2024	274	240	87.6%
Q4 2024	272	243	89.3%
Q1 2025	258	224	86.8%
Q2 2025	258	227	88.0%
Q3 2025	237	212	89.5%
Q4 2025	299	262	87.6%
Q1 2026	256	218	85.2%
Q2 2026	33	27	81.8%
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress)	3	2	sample too small

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 356 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 81.0% in Hutton East to 91.7% in Shenfield, a gap of 10.7 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Ingatestone, Fryerning And Mountnessing	398	353	45	88.7%
Shenfield	350	321	29	91.7%
Herongate, Ingrave And West Horndon	249	209	40	83.9%
Hutton South	245	224	21	91.4%
Brentwood South	234	192	42	82.1%
Hutton East	231	187	44	81.0%
Brizes, Stondon Massey And South Weald	200	169	31	84.5%
Pilgrims Hatch	194	166	28	85.6%
Warley	190	166	24	87.4%
Hutton North	176	161	15	91.5%
Brentwood North	162	143	19	88.3%
Brentwood West	160	135	25	84.4%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in Brentwood?

In the last 12 months, 82.6% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Brentwood, based on 235 decided applications. Across all application types, 86.5% of 3,284 applications decided since January 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in Brentwood?

The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Brentwood in the last 12 months was 67 days (about ten weeks). Times vary case by case.

Do I need planning permission in Brentwood?

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 Brentwood?

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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