Planiverse / Authorities / East Devon

Planning permission in East Devon

In the last 12 months, 93.1% of home project applications were approved in East Devon (175 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about seven weeks (median 49 days).

Across all application types, 89.3% of 5,214 applications decided since February 2023 were approved. Based on East Devon's public planning register. Data last updated: 19 May 2026.

7,025Total applications
5,214Decided
89.3%Approval rate (of decided)
4,654 Approved+560 Refused+245 Withdrawn+1,191 Pending+375 Outcome not determined=7,025 Total
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Decision Level
4,476Delegated
108Committee
By Development Category

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

CategoryDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Full planning applications 2,464 2,176 288
88.3%
Discharging planning conditions 698 685 13
98.1%
Listed Building Consent 459 431 28
93.9%
Protected tree works (TPO) 381 342 39
89.8%
Tree works in a conservation area 297 296 1
99.7%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) 182 148 34
81.3%
Changing a planning condition (S73) 161 145 16
90.1%
Prior approval (permitted development) 111 92 19
82.9%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use) 87 78 9
89.7%
Prior Notifications (Q) 67 27 40
40.3%
Advertisement Consent 53 42 11
79.2%
Prior Notification - Extensions 34 32 2
94.1%
Permission in Principle 32 10 22
31.2%
Outline Planning 24 10 14
41.7%
Change of Use 22 18 4
81.8%
Other* 142 122 20 mixed types

* Other combines smaller categories: Prior Notifications (MA) (18), Overhead Electricity Lines (16), Prior Notifications (R) (14), Minerals and waste (14), Hedgerow Removal (14), Demolition (14), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (11), Discharge of Biodiversity Gain Plan (9), Phone masts and telecoms (8), Major - Outline application (7), Prior Approval Solar Panels (6), Regulation 77 of the Conservation of Hab (3), Technical Consent (2), Prior Notifications (M) (2), Local Development Order (1), CPL for Proposed Works to a Listed Build (1), Section 106 Viability Reappraisal (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 179 155
86.6%
Q4 2023 476 423
88.9%
Q1 2024 547 483
88.3%
Q2 2024 482 425
88.2%
Q3 2024 518 469
90.5%
Q4 2024 511 457
89.4%
Q1 2025 552 504
91.3%
Q2 2025 563 499
88.6%
Q3 2025 581 516
88.8%
Q4 2025 500 443
88.6%
Q1 2026 163 147
90.2%
Q2 2026 11 10 sample too small
By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 452 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 81.9% in Ottery St Mary to 92.5% in Sidmouth Town, a gap of 10.6 percentage points.

WardDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Budleigh And Raleigh 424 378 46
89.2%
Dunkeswell And Otterhead 365 330 35
90.4%
Woodbury And Lympstone 331 295 36
89.1%
Ottery St Mary 259 212 47
81.9%
Coly Valley 256 232 24
90.6%
Sidmouth Town 254 235 19
92.5%
Broadclyst 248 229 19
92.3%
Trinity 214 190 24
88.8%
Exmouth Littleham 210 193 17
91.9%
Tale Vale 187 164 23
87.7%
West Hill And Aylesbeare 174 146 28
83.9%
Sidmouth Rural 170 148 22
87.1%
Frequently asked questions
What is the planning approval rate in East Devon?
In the last 12 months, 93.1% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in East Devon, based on 175 decided applications. Across all application types, 89.3% of 5,214 applications decided since February 2023 were approved.
How long does a planning decision take in East Devon?
The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in East Devon in the last 12 months was 49 days (about seven weeks). Times vary case by case.
Do I need planning permission in East Devon?
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 East Devon?
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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