Planiverse / Authorities / Epping Forest

Epping Forest

In the last 12 months, 75.3% of householder applications were approved in Epping Forest (523 decided). A typical householder decision takes about eight weeks (median 56 days).

Full planning applications: 46.1% approved (228 decided).

Across all application types on record (2023-05-22–2026-05-14): 76.0% of 6,036 decisions approved.

13,654Total applications
4,590Approved
1,446Refused
168Withdrawn
245Pending
76.0%Approval rate (all types)
Check a property in Epping Forest
Decision Level
5,764Delegated Decision
35Committee A
32Committee B
23Area Planning Sub Committee South
13Area Planning Sub Committee East
12Area Planning Sub Committee West
6Awaiting Committee Clearance
2District Development Management Committee
1County Matter
By Development Category
Category coverage for Epping Forest is currently limited. We're expanding our analysis as more data becomes available.
CategoryTotalApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Householder 2,015 1,471 544
73.0%
Full Planning Application 842 457 385
54.3%
Discharge of Conditions 728 642 86
88.2%
Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed) 722 610 112
84.5%
Tree Works (TPO) 404 374 30
92.6%
Householder (Prior Approval) 297 258 39
86.9%
Variation/Removal of Conditions (S73) 223 175 48
78.5%
Tree Works (Conservation Area) 174 172 2
98.9%
Listed Building Consent 159 103 56
64.8%
Non-Material Amendment (S96a) 148 102 46
68.9%
Certificate of Lawfulness (Existing) 98 66 32
67.3%
Advertisement Consent 66 59 7
89.4%
Prior notification: Building (agricultural/forestry) 42 28 14
66.7%
Prior approval Part 3 Class Q: Agricultural buildings to dwellinghouses 26 15 11
57.7%
Prior approval Part 3 Class R: Agricultural buildings to a flexible commercial use 16 9 7
56.2%
Telecommunications 15 10 5
66.7%
Confirmation of discharge of planning obligations 12 8 4
66.7%
Reserved Matters 9 8 1
88.9%
Permission in Principle 9 1 8
11.1%
Environmental Impact Assessment (Screening/Scoping) 5 5 0
100.0%
Prior notification: Demolition 5 4 1
80.0%
Prior approval Part 3 Class M: Retail or betting office or pay day loan shop to dwellinghouses 3 1 2
33.3%
Demolition in a conservation area 3 2 1
66.7%
Application for deed of variation of planning obligations 3 2 1
66.7%
Prior approval Part 14 Class J: Installation or alteration etc of solar equipment on non-domestic premises 3 3 0
100.0%
Prior notification: Road (agricultural/forestry) 2 2 0
100.0%
County Consultation 2 2 0
100.0%
Change of Use 2 0 2
0.0%
Prior approval Part 20 Class AB: New dwellinghouses on terrace building in commercial or mixed use 1 0 1
0.0%
Prior approval Part 14 Renewable Energy 1 1 0
100.0%
Listed building consent (demolish) 1 0 1
0.0%
Quarterly Trend
QuarterDecidedApprovedApproval rate
2023-Q3 387 298
77.0%
2023-Q4 533 397
74.5%
2024-Q1 553 409
74.0%
2024-Q2 598 452
75.6%
2024-Q3 641 510
79.6%
2024-Q4 476 358
75.2%
2025-Q1 501 368
73.5%
2025-Q2 476 350
73.5%
2025-Q3 486 360
74.1%
2025-Q4 491 360
73.3%
2026-Q1 444 350
78.8%
2026-Q2 234 175
74.8%
By Ward
WardTotalApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Theydon Bois with Passingford 440 317 123
72.0%
Rural East 412 280 132
68.0%
Grange Hill 365 277 88
75.9%
Epping West and Rural 353 294 59
83.3%
Loughton Forest 343 258 85
75.2%
Buckhurst Hill West 322 265 57
82.3%
Roydon and Lower Nazeing 318 221 97
69.5%
Chigwell with Lambourne 308 216 92
70.1%
Waltham Abbey South and Rural 298 218 80
73.2%
Loughton St. John's 260 198 62
76.2%
Epping East 258 209 49
81.0%
Ongar 200 156 44
78.0%
Planning guides

Not sure what you can build without planning permission? See our guides to permitted development rights and Article 4 directions.