Planiverse / Authorities / Brighton and Hove

Planning permission in Brighton and Hove

In the last 12 months, 92.2% of home project applications were approved in Brighton and Hove (383 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about twelve weeks (median 86 days).

Across all application types, 90.9% of 7,534 applications decided since March 2023 were approved. Based on Brighton and Hove's public planning register. Data last updated: 13 May 2026.

8,966Total applications
7,534Decided
90.9%Approval rate (of decided)
6,848 Approved+686 Refused+437 Withdrawn+647 Pending+348 Outcome not determined=8,966 Total
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By Development Category

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

CategoryDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Home extensions and alterations (householder) 1,827 1,715 112
93.9%
Full planning applications 1,567 1,305 262
83.3%
Discharging planning conditions 641 627 14
97.8%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) 560 541 19
96.6%
Tree works in a conservation area 547 541 6
98.9%
Listed Building Consent 463 420 43
90.7%
Prior approval (permitted development) 409 325 84
79.5%
Protected tree works (TPO) 357 338 19
94.7%
Changing a planning condition (S73) 210 192 18
91.4%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a) 204 176 28
86.3%
Advertisement Consent 184 158 26
85.9%
Trees 131 131 0 no refusals recorded
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use) 130 109 21
83.8%
Lawful Development 67 64 3
95.5%
Discharge of Condition 41 41 0 no refusals recorded
Prior Approval 31 30 1
96.8%
Listed Building 29 29 0 no refusals recorded
Phone masts and telecoms 26 19 7
73.1%
Other* 110 87 23 mixed types

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

Discharge of Condition: 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: Variation of Condition (19), Non-Material Amendment (16), Conversion to Flats (12), Signage (12), Change of Use (10), Residential New Build (9), Residential Extension (7), Approval of Details Reserved by Cond (5), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (4), Commercial (4), Demolition (3), Prior Approval Extension (3), Outline Planning (2), Treeworks in Conservation Area (Lopping) (2), Prior Notification Reg 5 (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 263 237
90.1%
Q4 2023 689 627
91.0%
Q1 2024 660 609
92.3%
Q2 2024 682 624
91.5%
Q3 2024 737 676
91.7%
Q4 2024 704 626
88.9%
Q1 2025 655 587
89.6%
Q2 2025 714 653
91.5%
Q3 2025 631 548
86.8%
Q4 2025 657 594
90.4%
Q1 2026 327 304
93.0%
Q2 2026 81 75
92.6%
By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 785 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 85.8% in Regency to 96.2% in Westbourne & Poets' Corner, a gap of 10.4 percentage points.

WardDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Westdene & Hove Park 667 621 46
93.1%
Regency 583 500 83
85.8%
Goldsmid 433 406 27
93.8%
West Hill & North Laine 422 371 51
87.9%
Preston Park 417 384 33
92.1%
Kemptown 407 355 52
87.2%
Rottingdean & West Saltdean 404 361 43
89.4%
Patcham & Hollingbury 401 370 31
92.3%
Brunswick & Adelaide 332 290 42
87.3%
Central Hove 319 287 32
90.0%
Westbourne & Poets' Corner 313 301 12
96.2%
Wish 301 278 23
92.4%
Frequently asked questions
What is the planning approval rate in Brighton and Hove?
In the last 12 months, 92.2% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Brighton and Hove, based on 383 decided applications. Across all application types, 90.9% of 7,534 applications decided since March 2023 were approved.
How long does a planning decision take in Brighton and Hove?
The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Brighton and Hove in the last 12 months was 86 days (about twelve weeks). Times vary case by case.
Do I need planning permission in Brighton and Hove?
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 Brighton and Hove?
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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