Planning permission in Chorley

In the last 12 months, 94.9% of home project applications were approved in Chorley (197 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about eight weeks (median 56 days).

Across all application types, 91.9% of 3,077 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on Chorley's public planning register. Data last updated: 23 August 2026.

3,912Total applications

3,077Decided

91.9%Approval rate (of decided)

2,827 Approved+250 Refused+125 Withdrawn+572 Pending+138 Outcome not determined=3,912 Total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)	862	822	40	95.4%
Full planning applications	548	497	51	90.7%
Discharging planning conditions	342	342	0	no refusals recorded
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	272	213	59	78.3%
Protected tree works (TPO)	259	229	30	88.4%
Phone masts and telecoms	153	149	4	97.4%
Permission In Principle	98	74	24	75.5%
Tree works in a conservation area	79	79	0	no refusals recorded
Listed Building Consent	72	62	10	86.1%
Advertisement Consent	67	65	2	97.0%
General Permitted Dev - Extensions	53	48	5	90.6%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	47	36	11	76.6%
Barn to home conversion (prior approval, Class Q)	41	41	0	no refusals recorded
Prior approval (permitted development)	33	27	6	81.8%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a)	31	28	3	outcome not determined
Full Planning (Major)	20	20	0	no refusals recorded
Other*	100	95	5	mixed types

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

Tree works in a conservation area: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

Barn to home conversion (prior approval, Class Q): no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a): 85 applications where we could not determine the outcome from the data we hold, so no approval rate is shown.

Full Planning (Major): no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (19), Outline Planning (17), Consultation from Neighbouring LPA (17), Telecom Mast - No Consultation (15), Minerals and waste (11), Demolition (7), Minor Non-Material Amendments (3), Agricultural (Prior Notification) (3), Chorley Regulation 3 (2), Prior Approval Required (1), Major Chorley Regulation 3 (1), Permitted Development Prior Approval (1), Prior Approval from Retail to Dwelling (1), Major Full Planning (1), Hedgerow Removal (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	86	77	89.5%
Q4 2023	230	213	92.6%
Q1 2024	221	206	93.2%
Q2 2024	216	204	94.4%
Q3 2024	271	254	93.7%
Q4 2024	260	245	94.2%
Q1 2025	243	224	92.2%
Q2 2025	258	236	91.5%
Q3 2025	243	220	90.5%
Q4 2025	294	257	87.4%
Q1 2026	234	211	90.2%
Q2 2026	58	51	87.9%
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress)	11	11	sample too small

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 160 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 88.6% in Coppull to 96.6% in Chorley North And Astley, a gap of 8.0 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Croston, Mawdesley And Euxton South	547	502	45	91.8%
Chorley North East	398	365	33	91.7%
Eccleston, Heskin And Charnock Richard	292	266	26	91.1%
Chorley North West	232	214	18	92.2%
Clayton East, Brindle And Hoghton	228	213	15	93.4%
Adlington And Anderton	215	193	22	89.8%
Chorley South East And Heath Charnock	191	173	18	90.6%
Coppull	176	156	20	88.6%
Buckshaw And Whittle	171	162	9	94.7%
Clayton West And Cuerden	169	158	11	93.5%
Euxton	148	136	12	91.9%
Chorley North And Astley	147	142	5	96.6%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in Chorley?

In the last 12 months, 94.9% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Chorley, based on 197 decided applications. Across all application types, 91.9% of 3,077 applications decided since January 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in Chorley?

The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Chorley in the last 12 months was 56 days (about eight weeks). Times vary case by case.

Do I need planning permission in Chorley?

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 Chorley?

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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