Planning permission in King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Limited recent decision data is available for King's Lynn and West Norfolk, so we don't show a headline approval rate here. The figures below cover all application types on record.

Across all application types, 90.5% of 3,313 applications decided since February 2023 were approved. Based on King's Lynn and West Norfolk's public planning register. Data last updated: 6 August 2026.

4,125Total applications
3,313Decided
90.5%Approval rate (of decided)
2,998 Approved+315 Refused+204 Withdrawn+416 Pending+192 Outcome not determined=4,125 Total
Reports for King's Lynn and West Norfolk are coming soon.

We are not yet generating property reports for King's Lynn and West Norfolk. You can still look up an address to see its planning constraints (conservation area, listed building, Article 4 direction, flood zone), and leave your email to hear when King's Lynn and West Norfolk reports go live.

By Development Category

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

CategoryDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Full planning applications 1,551 1,369 182
88.3%
Discharging planning conditions 613 613 0 no refusals recorded
Tree works in a conservation area 337 337 0 no refusals recorded
Protected tree works (TPO) 151 136 15
90.1%
Listed Building Consent 129 122 7
94.6%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a) 117 99 18
84.6%
Outline Planning 64 30 34
46.9%
Notification (28 days) 52 52 0 no refusals recorded
Advertisement Consent 50 47 3
94.0%
Full Planning (Major) 34 31 3
91.2%
Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) 33 30 3
90.9%
Change of Use 29 26 3
89.7%
Barn to home conversion (prior approval, Class Q) 26 15 11
57.7%
Other* 127 91 36 mixed types

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

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

Notification (28 days): no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: GPD Extns - larger HH extn (14), Minerals and waste (14), Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) (12), Part 14 (11), Prior approval (permitted development) (10), Certificate of lawfulness (existing use) (9), Phone masts and telecoms (9), Conservation of Hab and Species Regs 17 (8), County Matter Application (6), Variation of S106 Section 1(B) (5), Change of Use Application (5), PA Part 3, Class M (4), Consultation by Adjoining Authority (4), Discharge of Planning Condition_E (2), PA Ag to Residential (Part 3,Class Q) (2), Hedgerow Removal (2), GPD Extns - additional storey (1), Notification of removal of BT Kiosk (1), Discharge of planning condition_N (1), Non-Material Amendment 6 - Major (1), Non-Material Amendment - Major 3 (1), Flexible Notification (Part 3,Class R) (1), Discharge of planning condition_I (1), Reserved Matters - Major Development (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 247 231
93.5%
Q4 2023 431 381
88.4%
Q1 2024 558 493
88.4%
Q2 2024 438 397
90.6%
Q3 2024 394 350
88.8%
Q4 2024 334 302
90.4%
Q1 2025 257 237
92.2%
Q2 2025 250 235
94.0%
Q3 2025 111 100
90.1%
Q4 2025 13 12 sample too small
Q1 2026 3 3 sample too small
Q2 2026 35 34
97.1%
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress) 16 15 sample too small
By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 306 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 80.8% in Terrington to 95.2% in Massingham With Castle Acre, a gap of 14.4 percentage points.

WardDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Brancaster 304 284 20
93.4%
Burnham Market And Docking 272 254 18
93.4%
St. Margarets With St. Nicholas 170 156 14
91.8%
Walsoken, West Walton And Walpole 165 149 16
90.3%
The Woottons 153 143 10
93.5%
Upwell And Delph 147 131 16
89.1%
Gayton And Grimston 131 117 14
89.3%
Heacham 129 119 10
92.2%
Bircham With Rudhams 126 112 14
88.9%
Massingham With Castle Acre 125 119 6
95.2%
Terrington 120 97 23
80.8%
Emneth And Outwell 112 96 16
85.7%
Frequently asked questions
What is the planning approval rate in King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
Across all application types, 90.5% of 3,313 applications decided in King's Lynn and West Norfolk since February 2023 were approved.
Do I need planning permission in King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
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.

Reports for King's Lynn and West Norfolk are coming soon. Look up an address now to see its constraints, and join the waitlist.