Planning permission in Fenland

In the last 12 months, 90.7% of home project applications were approved in Fenland (97 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about nine weeks (median 66 days).

Across all application types, 89.8% of 2,610 applications decided since May 2023 were approved. Based on Fenland's public planning register. Data last updated: 4 May 2026.

3,000Total applications

2,610Decided

89.8%Approval rate (of decided)

2,343 Approved+267 Refused+82 Withdrawn+228 Pending+80 Outcome not determined=3,000 Total

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By Development Category

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

Category	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Full planning applications	1,051	943	108	89.7%
Discharging planning conditions	485	461	24	95.1%
Changing a planning condition (S73)	147	136	11	92.5%
Tree works in a conservation area	133	133	0	no refusals recorded
Protected tree works (TPO)	132	113	19	85.6%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a)	103	91	12	88.3%
Outline Planning	91	52	39	57.1%
Reserved matters (detail after outline approval)	63	62	1	98.4%
Listed Building Consent	61	60	1	98.4%
Advertisement Consent	46	45	1	97.8%
Prior approval (permitted development)	38	29	9	76.3%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	37	36	1	97.3%
Permission In Principle	30	17	13	56.7%
PN-COU Ag building to Dwelling	29	13	16	44.8%
Biodiversity net gain plan	29	29	0	no refusals recorded
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	20	17	3	85.0%
Other*	115	106	9	mixed types

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

Biodiversity net gain plan: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Cambridgeshire County Council (14), Demolition (14), PN - Solar Voltaic Equip (11), Fenland District Land (10), Fenland District Council (10), Home extensions and alterations (householder) (9), Phone masts and telecoms (9), Change of Use (8), Environmental impact screening and scoping (7), Enquiry to establish if conds discharged (6), Overhead Lines Exemption (4), Planning Obligation (3), PN-COU Ag Building to B8, C1 or E (2), Cert of law (proposed) LISTED BUILD (2), Works to trees protected by a TPO (2), Hazardous Substances (1), Scoping/Screening CCC (1), PN- COU Office to Dwelling (1), Adding storeys (prior approval, Class AA) (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	87	81	93.1%
Q4 2023	192	182	94.8%
Q1 2024	214	190	88.8%
Q2 2024	217	201	92.6%
Q3 2024	217	197	90.8%
Q4 2024	219	195	89.0%
Q1 2025	220	195	88.6%
Q2 2025	283	257	90.8%
Q3 2025	237	203	85.7%
Q4 2025	266	234	88.0%
Q1 2026	255	225	88.2%
Q2 2026	99	85	85.9%

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 279 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 85.9% in Doddington And Wimblington to 94.5% in Wisbech Riverside, a gap of 8.6 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Chatteris North And Manea	262	226	36	86.3%
Parson Drove And Wisbech St Mary	258	225	33	87.2%
Doddington And Wimblington	256	220	36	85.9%
Leverington And Wisbech Rural	231	210	21	90.9%
Chatteris South	220	204	16	92.7%
Wisbech South	179	169	10	94.4%
Elm And Christchurch	166	150	16	90.4%
Whittlesey East And Villages	159	149	10	93.7%
March West And Benwick	157	139	18	88.5%
March North	132	118	14	89.4%
Whittlesey South	131	120	11	91.6%
Wisbech Riverside	109	103	6	94.5%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in Fenland?

In the last 12 months, 90.7% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Fenland, based on 97 decided applications. Across all application types, 89.8% of 2,610 applications decided since May 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in Fenland?

The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Fenland in the last 12 months was 66 days (about nine weeks). Times vary case by case.

Do I need planning permission in Fenland?

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 Fenland?

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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