Planiverse / Authorities / Cumberland

Planning permission in Cumberland

In the last 12 months, 93.4% of home project applications were approved in Cumberland (122 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about nine weeks (median 65 days).

Across all application types, 97.2% of 3,167 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on Cumberland's public planning register. Data last updated: 23 August 2026.

4,004Total applications
3,167Decided
97.2%Approval rate (of decided)
3,079 Approved+88 Refused+185 Withdrawn+290 Pending+362 Outcome not determined=4,004 Total
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Decision Level
2,182Delegated
By Development Category

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

CategoryDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Full planning applications 738 707 31
95.8%
Home extensions and alterations (householder) 689 670 19
97.2%
Tree works in a conservation area 262 262 0 no refusals recorded
Discharging planning conditions 232 232 0 no refusals recorded
Listed Building Consent 207 203 4
98.1%
Changing a planning condition (S73) 186 183 3
98.4%
Agricultural Determination/Forestry Dev 182 175 7
96.2%
Phone masts and telecoms 156 153 3
98.1%
Protected tree works (TPO) 117 114 3
97.4%
Advertisement Consent 102 99 3
97.1%
Prior approval (permitted development) 90 87 3
96.7%
Exempt Organisation Notification 35 35 0 no refusals recorded
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) 32 31 1
96.9%
Change of Use 31 30 1
96.8%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a) 21 19 2 outcome not determined
Other* 87 79 8 mixed types

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

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

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

Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a): 80 applications where we could not determine the outcome from the data we hold, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Certificate of lawfulness (existing use) (19), Outline Planning (15), Hedgerow Removal (12), Demolition (10), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (9), Larger extensions (householder prior approval) (4), Not Available (3), County Council Application Consultation (3), Barn to home conversion (prior approval, Class Q) (3), Neighbouring Authority Consultation (2), Telecommunications Determ. (56 days) (2), Regulation 77 Conservation of Habitats (1), Notification under Part 15 Class B of GPDO-2015 (1), Environmental impact screening and scoping (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.

QuarterDecidedApprovedApproval rate
Q3 2023 127 124
97.6%
Q4 2023 355 342
96.3%
Q1 2024 305 288
94.4%
Q2 2024 329 323
98.2%
Q3 2024 205 203
99.0%
Q4 2024 209 208
99.5%
Q1 2025 183 181
98.9%
Q2 2025 240 233
97.1%
Q3 2025 186 180
96.8%
Q4 2025 201 196
97.5%
Q1 2026 190 179
94.2%
Q2 2026 110 105
95.5%
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress) 5 4 sample too small
By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 136 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 92.7% in Botcherby to 99.1% in Castle, a gap of 6.4 percentage points.

WardDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Dalston & Burgh 420 414 6
98.6%
Longtown 276 272 4
98.6%
Houghton & Irthington 270 258 12
95.6%
Castle 227 225 2
99.1%
Wetheral 220 209 11
95.0%
Corby & Hayton 213 206 7
96.7%
Brampton 208 203 5
97.6%
Stanwix Urban 118 116 2
98.3%
Belah 79 76 3
96.2%
Currock 71 66 5
93.0%
Multiple Wards 59 56 3
94.9%
Botcherby 55 51 4
92.7%
Frequently asked questions
What is the planning approval rate in Cumberland?
In the last 12 months, 93.4% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Cumberland, based on 122 decided applications. Across all application types, 97.2% of 3,167 applications decided since January 2023 were approved.
How long does a planning decision take in Cumberland?
The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Cumberland in the last 12 months was 65 days (about nine weeks). Times vary case by case.
Do I need planning permission in Cumberland?
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 Cumberland?
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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