Planning permission in Isle of Wight

In the last 12 months, 96.5% of home project applications were approved in Isle of Wight (144 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about nine weeks (median 62 days).

Across all application types, 90.3% of 3,380 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on Isle of Wight's public planning register. Data last updated: 23 August 2026.

4,327Total applications

3,380Decided

90.3%Approval rate (of decided)

3,051 Approved+329 Refused+167 Withdrawn+469 Pending+311 Outcome not determined=4,327 Total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)	763	694	69	91.0%
Full planning applications	566	477	89	84.3%
Protected tree works (TPO)	537	478	59	89.0%
Tree works in a conservation area	452	447	5	98.9%
Discharging planning conditions	433	427	6	98.6%
Changing a planning condition (S73)	150	141	9	94.0%
Listed Building Consent	130	117	13	90.0%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	73	54	19	74.0%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a)	73	50	23	68.5%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	47	39	8	83.0%
Advertisement Consent	37	33	4	89.2%
Prior App - Agricultural or Forestry	28	19	9	67.9%
Other*	91	75	16	mixed types

* Other combines smaller categories: Larger extensions (householder prior approval) (13), Outline Planning (11), Ordinary Watercourse Consent (10), Prior approval (permitted development) (8), Prior App - Solar Equipment on Non Domes (7), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (6), Prior App - frm agr to flexible commer (5), Prior App - Agricultural to Residential (5), Demolition (5), Prior App - Comm/bus/Serv to Dwelling (5), Habitat Regulations 2010 (3), Prior App - Local or Private Act/Order D (3), Prior App - Certain uses to Dwellinghous (3), Prior App - Elec Comms Code Operators De (2), Electricity Generating Stations and Over (2), Prior Notification - Sc.2 / Pt.4 / Cl.Bc (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	80	71	88.8%
Q4 2023	268	240	89.6%
Q1 2024	304	268	88.2%
Q2 2024	279	252	90.3%
Q3 2024	286	264	92.3%
Q4 2024	282	248	87.9%
Q1 2025	270	240	88.9%
Q2 2025	258	238	92.2%
Q3 2025	267	246	92.1%
Q4 2025	288	262	91.0%
Q1 2026	263	247	93.9%
Q2 2026	44	41	93.2%
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress)	13	11	sample too small

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 297 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 84.1% in Newchurch Havenstreet And Ashey to 96.2% in Ryde North West, a gap of 12.1 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Brighstone Calbourne And Shalfleet	199	182	17	91.5%
Nettlestone And Seaview	193	173	20	89.6%
Ventnor And St Lawrence	171	155	16	90.6%
Bembridge	162	152	10	93.8%
Cowes West And Gurnard	158	148	10	93.7%
Ryde North West	157	151	6	96.2%
Newchurch Havenstreet And Ashey	157	132	25	84.1%
Central Rural	151	132	19	87.4%
Freshwater North And Yarmouth	148	130	18	87.8%
Chale Niton And Shorwell	129	117	12	90.7%
Shanklin South	118	108	10	91.5%
Brading And St Helens	104	93	11	89.4%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in Isle of Wight?

In the last 12 months, 96.5% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Isle of Wight, based on 144 decided applications. Across all application types, 90.3% of 3,380 applications decided since January 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in Isle of Wight?

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

Do I need planning permission in Isle of Wight?

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 Isle of Wight?

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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