Planning permission in Dorset

Limited recent decision data is available for Dorset, so we don't show a headline approval rate here. The figures below cover all application types on record.

Across all application types, 90.0% of 17,879 applications decided since August 2021 were approved. Based on Dorset's public planning register. Data last updated: 23 August 2026.

21,899Total applications

17,879Decided

90.0%Approval rate (of decided)

16,093 Approved+1,786 Refused+1,102 Withdrawn+955 Pending+1,963 Outcome not determined=21,899 Total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)	4,154	3,916	238	94.3%
Tree works in a conservation area	2,934	2,892	42	98.6%
Protected tree works (TPO)	2,922	2,576	346	88.2%
Full planning applications	2,620	2,172	448	82.9%
Listed Building Consent	1,562	1,476	86	94.5%
Changing a planning condition (S73)	723	683	40	94.5%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a)	691	558	133	80.8%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	593	456	137	76.9%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	322	242	80	75.2%
Advertisement Consent	189	178	11	94.2%
Prior approval (permitted development)	142	118	24	83.1%
Larger extensions (householder prior approval)	138	110	28	79.7%
Prior Approval - Building for Agricultural/Forestry Use	128	114	14	89.1%
Reserved matters (detail after outline approval)	75	69	6	92.0%
Prior Approval - Agricultural to Dwelling	68	43	25	63.2%
Habitat Regulations Assessment Application	61	50	11	82.0%
Outline Planning	55	16	39	29.1%
Phone masts and telecoms	48	43	5	89.6%
Barn to home conversion (prior approval, Class Q)	42	27	15	64.3%
Change of Use	41	30	11	73.2%
Prior Approval - Private Road For Agricultural/Forestry Use	34	27	7	79.4%
Prior Approval - Roof Mounted Solar PV on a Non Domestic Building	26	26	0	no refusals recorded
Prior Approval - Building for Agricultural/Forestry Use - Part 2	25	14	11	56.0%
Prior Approval - Agricultural to Flexible Commercial Use	21	16	5	76.2%
Modify Or Discharge A Planning Obligation	20	16	4	80.0%
Other*	245	225	20	mixed types

Prior Approval - Roof Mounted Solar PV on a Non Domestic Building: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Prior Approval - Excavation/Deposit Waste For Agriculture (15), Permission In Principle (12), Hedgerow Removal (10), Statutory Undertaker (9), Prior Approval - Demolition (9), Demolition (8), Change of use to homes (prior approval, Class MA) (6), Prior Approval - Private Road For Agricultural/Forestry Use - Part 2 (6), Prior Approval - Excavation/Deposit Waste For Agriculture- Part 2 (6), Tree Works - Consultations (5), Hedgerow Removal Consent (4), Adding storeys (prior approval, Class AA) (4), Planning Permission for Relevant Demolition unlisted building in a conservation area (3), LDO Pre-Development Notice (3), Tree Works - Statutory Undertakers (2), Prior Approval - Commercial Business & Service To Mixed Use With Up To 2 Flats (2), Prior Approval - Flat Roof Mounted Solar PV on a Domestic Building (2), Prior Approval - Temporary Recreational Campsites (2), Minerals and waste (1), Environmental impact screening and scoping (1), Prior Approval - Moveable structures for historic visitor attractions, listed pubs, restaurants etc (1), Neighbouring Authority Application (1), Prior Approval - Proposed: New dwellinghouses on detached buildings in commercial or mixed use (1), Permission In Principle - Technical Detail Consent (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	600	532	88.7%
Q4 2023	1,616	1,471	91.0%
Q1 2024	1,508	1,344	89.1%
Q2 2024	1,420	1,261	88.8%
Q3 2024	1,338	1,174	87.7%
Q4 2024	1,310	1,167	89.1%
Q1 2025	1,244	1,094	87.9%
Q2 2025	1,449	1,316	90.8%
Q3 2025	1,450	1,324	91.3%
Q4 2025	1,363	1,248	91.6%
Q1 2026	1,070	975	91.1%
Q2 2026	661	566	85.6%

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 610 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 77.3% in Stour and Allen Vale Ward to 97.3% in Chalk Valleys Ward, a gap of 20.0 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
St. Leonards and St. Ives Ward	352	312	40	88.6%
Gillingham Ward	328	291	37	88.7%
Beacon Ward	323	306	17	94.7%
Bridport Ward	251	224	27	89.2%
West Purbeck Ward	247	235	12	95.1%
South East Purbeck Ward	244	224	20	91.8%
Lytchett Matravers and Upton Ward	238	197	41	82.8%
Colehill and Wimborne Minster East Ward	237	217	20	91.6%
Wareham Ward	236	206	30	87.3%
Chalk Valleys Ward	226	220	6	97.3%
Stour and Allen Vale Ward	225	174	51	77.3%
Ferndown North Ward	216	194	22	89.8%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in Dorset?

Across all application types, 90.0% of 17,879 applications decided in Dorset since August 2021 were approved.

Do I need planning permission in Dorset?

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 Dorset?

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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