Planning permission in Harborough

In the last 12 months, 92.5% of home project applications were approved in Harborough (159 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about nine weeks (median 62 days).

Across all application types, 92.7% of 3,240 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on Harborough's public planning register. Data last updated: 12 April 2026.

3,761Total applications

3,240Decided

92.7%Approval rate (of decided)

3,005 Approved+235 Refused+165 Withdrawn+317 Pending+39 Outcome not determined=3,761 Total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	1,223	1,120	103	91.6%
Tree works in a conservation area	619	612	7	98.9%
Discharging planning conditions	334	334	0	no refusals recorded
Protected tree works (TPO)	242	229	13	94.6%
Listed Building Consent	145	133	12	91.7%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	125	104	21	83.2%
Changing a planning condition (S73)	123	114	9	92.7%
Non - Material Amendment	123	114	9	92.7%
Permitted Development Notification	77	58	19	75.3%
Advertisement Consent	66	56	10	84.8%
Barn to home conversion (prior approval, Class Q)	50	46	4	92.0%
Outline Planning	32	14	18	43.8%
Reserved matters (detail after outline approval)	28	27	1	96.4%
Home extensions and alterations (householder)	26	22	4	84.6%
Other*	27	22	5	mixed types

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

* Other combines smaller categories: Prior approval (permitted development) (8), Minerals and waste (6), Phone masts and telecoms (5), Permission in Principle (4), Hedgerow Removal (3), Environmental impact screening and scoping (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	115	109	94.8%
Q4 2023	270	251	93.0%
Q1 2024	271	251	92.6%
Q2 2024	261	234	89.7%
Q3 2024	266	244	91.7%
Q4 2024	243	227	93.4%
Q1 2025	255	243	95.3%
Q2 2025	263	237	90.1%
Q3 2025	257	241	93.8%
Q4 2025	294	269	91.5%
Q1 2026	235	216	91.9%
Q2 2026	20	20	100.0%
Q4 2026	1	1	sample too small

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 305 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 89.1% in Billesdon And Tilton to 96.8% in Lubenham, a gap of 7.7 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Nevill	313	290	23	92.7%
Thurnby And Houghton	284	258	26	90.8%
Kibworths	281	261	20	92.9%
Market Harborough Great Bowden And Arden	257	240	17	93.4%
Lubenham	253	245	8	96.8%
Billesdon And Tilton	221	197	24	89.1%
Glen	210	194	16	92.4%
Bosworth	202	190	12	94.1%
Dunton	159	147	12	92.5%
Market Harborough Logan	158	145	13	91.8%
Ullesthorpe	154	143	11	92.9%
Fleckney	119	110	9	92.4%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in Harborough?

In the last 12 months, 92.5% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Harborough, based on 159 decided applications. Across all application types, 92.7% of 3,240 applications decided since January 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in Harborough?

The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Harborough in the last 12 months was 62 days (about nine weeks). Times vary case by case.

Do I need planning permission in Harborough?

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 Harborough?

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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