In the last 12 months, 85.5% of full planning applications were approved in Buckinghamshire (117 decided). A typical decision takes about eleven weeks (median 78 days).
Across all application types on record (2023-01-12–2026-04-01): 87.7% of 6,830 decisions approved.
| Category | Total | Approved | Refused | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Planning Application | 3,167 | 2,811 | 356 | |
| Discharge of Conditions | 644 | 643 | 1 | |
| Tree Works (TPO) | 572 | 527 | 45 | |
| Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed) | 556 | 379 | 177 | |
| Tree Works (Conservation Area) | 351 | 351 | 0 | |
| Variation/Removal of Conditions (S73) | 289 | 269 | 20 | |
| Listed Building Consent | 283 | 260 | 23 | |
| Non-Material Amendment (S96a) | 187 | 149 | 38 | |
| Householder (Prior Approval) | 174 | 128 | 46 | |
| Certificate of Lawfulness (Existing) | 85 | 52 | 33 | |
| Advertisement Consent | 73 | 68 | 5 | |
| Prior Approval (Other) | 66 | 46 | 20 | |
| Change of Use | 60 | 38 | 22 | |
| Householder | 56 | 45 | 11 | |
| Outline Planning | 41 | 29 | 12 | |
| HS2 Application | 38 | 38 | 0 | |
| Development by Statutory Undertaker | 34 | 32 | 2 | |
| Application to modify or discharge POA | 21 | 21 | 0 | |
| Prior Appr: Part 03 Class G/MA-use C3 | 18 | 10 | 8 | |
| Telecommunications | 16 | 4 | 12 | |
| Permission in Principle | 10 | 7 | 3 | |
| Consultation from Adjoining Authority | 9 | 8 | 1 | |
| Prior Appr: Part 14, Class J/K/OA-solar | 8 | 7 | 1 | |
| Overhead Lines | 8 | 8 | 0 | |
| Environmental Impact Assessment (Screening/Scoping) | 7 | 7 | 0 | |
| Demolition | 7 | 6 | 1 | |
| Reserved Matters | 5 | 5 | 0 | |
| Solar Photovoltaics (PV) Equipment | 5 | 5 | 0 | |
| Mod & Discharge of Legal Agreement | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
| Prior Approval (Class AA — Upward Extension) | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
| Hedgerow Removal | 5 | 5 | 0 | |
| Reg 3, Councils app, Council owned land | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
| Bedgrove applications | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Prior Appr: Part 03 Class R-use to mixed | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Consultation - Adjacent Authority/Area | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Technical Details Consent | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Prior Approval (Class Q — Agricultural to Residential) | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Prior Appr: Part 4 Class CA-temp school | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Prior Appr: Part 20 Class AB-dwellings | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Hazardous Substances Consent | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Uncategorised | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Conservation | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Development Consent Order | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Agri - further details required | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Quarter | Decided | Approved | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-Q3 | 1,135 | 1,020 | |
| 2023-Q4 | 1,122 | 991 | |
| 2024-Q1 | 1,056 | 897 | |
| 2024-Q2 | 787 | 679 | |
| 2024-Q3 | 374 | 318 | |
| 2024-Q4 | 266 | 225 | |
| 2025-Q1 | 206 | 179 | |
| 2025-Q2 | 191 | 167 | |
| 2025-Q3 | 207 | 183 | |
| 2025-Q4 | 66 | 53 | |
| 2026-Q1 | 17 | 14 | |
| 2026-Q2 | 1 | 1 |
| Ward | Total | Approved | Refused | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Former Gerrards Cross | 277 | 256 | 21 | |
| Marlow | 248 | 221 | 27 | |
| Former Beaconsfield | 245 | 230 | 15 | |
| FORMER BERNWOOD | 241 | 222 | 19 | |
| FORMER GREAT BRICKHILL | 226 | 187 | 39 | |
| Former Chalfont St Giles | 211 | 187 | 24 | |
| FORMER WINSLOW | 194 | 164 | 30 | |
| FORMER STONE AND WADDESDON | 193 | 182 | 11 | |
| Flackwell Heath and The Wooburns | 191 | 165 | 26 | |
| Abbey | 178 | 171 | 7 | |
| Chiltern Villages | 171 | 151 | 20 | |
| Former Stoke Poges & Wexham | 168 | 140 | 28 |
Not sure what you can build without planning permission? See our guides to permitted development rights and Article 4 directions.