Planning permission in City of London

In the last 12 months, 97.2% of full planning applications were approved in City of London (109 decided). A typical decision takes about twenty weeks (median 137 days).

Across all application types, 98.8% of 3,025 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on City of London's public planning register. Data last updated: 7 April 2026.

3,738Total applications

3,025Decided

98.8%Approval rate (of decided)

2,989 Approved+36 Refused+107 Withdrawn+0 Pending+606 Outcome not determined=3,738 Total

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Decision Level

3,704Delegated

By Development Category

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

Category	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Discharging planning conditions	1,361	1,361	0	no refusals recorded
Full planning applications	460	451	9	98.0%
Listed Building Consent	383	380	3	99.2%
Advertisement Consent	214	198	16	92.5%
Planning Obligations	201	201	0	no refusals recorded
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a)	176	175	1	99.4%
Observations from other Boroughs	80	76	4	95.0%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	24	24	0	no refusals recorded
Phone masts and telecoms	21	21	0	outcome not determined
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	20	20	0	no refusals recorded
Other*	85	82	3	mixed types

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

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

Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development): no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

Phone masts and telecoms: 38 applications where we could not determine the outcome from the data we hold, so no approval rate is shown.

Certificate of lawfulness (existing use): no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Environmental impact screening and scoping (19), Full Planning (Major) (18), Tree works in a conservation area (13), Thames Tideway Tunnel (12), Deed of Variation (8), Determination whether prior app required (7), Protected tree works (TPO) (5), Bank Station Capacity Upgrade (1), Permission in Principle (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	90	89	98.9%
Q4 2023	179	179	100.0%
Q1 2024	256	254	99.2%
Q2 2024	209	203	97.1%
Q3 2024	261	256	98.1%
Q4 2024	245	243	99.2%
Q1 2025	165	159	96.4%
Q2 2025	237	234	98.7%
Q3 2025	266	262	98.5%
Q4 2025	355	352	99.2%
Q1 2026	388	384	99.0%
Q2 2026	7	7	sample too small

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 249 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 97.8% in Cripplegate to 100.0% in Bassishaw, a gap of 2.2 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Farringdon Within	314	311	3	99.0%
Farringdon Without	309	305	4	98.7%
Bishopsgate	301	298	3	99.0%
Castle Baynard	277	276	1	99.6%
Coleman Street	206	204	2	99.0%
Tower	196	193	3	98.5%
Cripplegate	139	136	3	97.8%
Aldgate	132	130	2	98.5%
Cheap	123	122	1	99.2%
Bassishaw	106	106	0	100.0%
Bridge And Bridge Without	94	93	1	98.9%
Lime Street	92	92	0	100.0%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in City of London?

Across all application types, 98.8% of 3,025 applications decided in City of London since January 2023 were approved.

Do I need planning permission in City of London?

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 City of London?

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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