Planiverse / Authorities / Cheltenham

Planning permission in Cheltenham

In the last 12 months, 98.0% of home project applications were approved in Cheltenham (350 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work.

Across all application types, 96.0% of 4,743 applications decided since June 2023 were approved. Based on Cheltenham's public planning register. Data last updated: 8 August 2026.

5,680Total applications
4,743Decided
96.0%Approval rate (of decided)
4,551 Approved+192 Refused+224 Withdrawn+0 Pending+713 Outcome not determined=5,680 Total
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Decision Level
5,612Delegated
57Committee
By Development Category

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

CategoryDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Full planning applications 2,038 1,933 105
94.8%
Conservation Area Notification 963 963 0 no refusals recorded
Listed Building Consent 481 461 20
95.8%
Discharging planning conditions 475 471 4
99.2%
Protected tree works (TPO) 292 284 8
97.3%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) 156 135 21
86.5%
Changing a planning condition (S73) 134 133 1
99.3%
Advertisement Consent 95 91 4
95.8%
Prior Approval Determination 36 28 8
77.8%
General PD - Extensions 20 19 1
95.0%
Other* 53 33 20 mixed types

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

* Other combines smaller categories: Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a) (10), Change of Use (8), Deemed Permission Regulation 3 (8), Outline Planning (7), Permission In Principle (5), Certificate of lawfulness (existing use) (3), Demolition Consultation (3), Hedgerow Removal (3), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (2), Discharge of BNG Condition (2), Deed of Variation to S106 Agreement (1).

Quarterly Trend

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

QuarterDecidedApprovedApproval rate
Q3 2023 196 183
93.4%
Q4 2023 401 381
95.0%
Q1 2024 376 357
94.9%
Q2 2024 385 360
93.5%
Q3 2024 422 402
95.3%
Q4 2024 426 409
96.0%
Q1 2025 413 400
96.9%
Q2 2025 425 417
98.1%
Q3 2025 431 407
94.4%
Q4 2025 405 395
97.5%
Q1 2026 349 343
98.3%
Q2 2026 298 291
97.7%
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress) 53 50
94.3%
By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 350 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 93.1% in Battledown to 98.7% in Charlton Park, a gap of 5.6 percentage points.

WardDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Lansdown 543 525 18
96.7%
College 525 511 14
97.3%
Park 517 502 15
97.1%
Pittville 338 322 16
95.3%
All Saints 328 312 16
95.1%
Prestbury 309 294 15
95.1%
Leckhampton 308 300 8
97.4%
Charlton Park 306 302 4
98.7%
Charlton Kings 290 279 11
96.2%
Battledown 216 201 15
93.1%
Benhall/The Reddings/Fiddlers Green 171 162 9
94.7%
Swindon Village 153 151 2
98.7%
Frequently asked questions
What is the planning approval rate in Cheltenham?
In the last 12 months, 98.0% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Cheltenham, based on 350 decided applications. Across all application types, 96.0% of 4,743 applications decided since June 2023 were approved.
Do I need planning permission in Cheltenham?
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 Cheltenham?
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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