In the last 12 months, 91.5% of full planning applications were approved in Lake District (508 decided). A typical decision takes about eight weeks (median 55 days).
Across all application types on record (2023-05-12–2026-04-29): 91.8% of 3,641 decisions approved.
| Category | Total | Approved | Refused | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Planning Application | 1,941 | 1,782 | 159 | |
| Tree Works (Conservation Area) | 335 | 334 | 1 | |
| S73 (Amend/Delete Condition) | 235 | 217 | 18 | |
| Listed Building Consent | 212 | 212 | 0 | |
| Tree Works (TPO) | 184 | 175 | 9 | |
| Prior Approval (Other) | 174 | 160 | 14 | |
| Non-Material Amendment (S96a) | 140 | 120 | 20 | |
| Uncategorised | 106 | 79 | 27 | |
| Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed) | 72 | 64 | 8 | |
| Certificate of Lawfulness (Existing) | 70 | 50 | 20 | |
| Advertisement Consent | 47 | 47 | 0 | |
| Telecommunications | 21 | 19 | 2 | |
| Outline Planning | 16 | 10 | 6 | |
| BNG - Confirmation of Compliance | 13 | 13 | 0 | |
| Notification of Intention (Demolition, Q6g) | 13 | 13 | 0 | |
| Reserved Matters | 11 | 8 | 3 | |
| Full Planning (Major) | 11 | 9 | 2 | |
| Other | 7 | 5 | 2 | |
| Notice of Intention (Change of Use, Q6g) | 7 | 4 | 3 | |
| Modify planning obligation | 5 | 2 | 3 | |
| Consultation | 5 | 5 | 0 | |
| Enquiry - Advice (After 1 August 2018) | 5 | 5 | 0 | |
| Notice of Intention (Solar, Q6g) | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| CLPWLB - Certificate of Lawfulness of Proposed Works to Listed Building | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Hedgerow Removal | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Enquiry - Timeline | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Option | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Quarter | Decided | Approved | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-Q3 | 235 | 222 | |
| 2023-Q4 | 337 | 318 | |
| 2024-Q1 | 348 | 306 | |
| 2024-Q2 | 317 | 283 | |
| 2024-Q3 | 331 | 304 | |
| 2024-Q4 | 305 | 287 | |
| 2025-Q1 | 325 | 301 | |
| 2025-Q2 | 316 | 292 | |
| 2025-Q3 | 304 | 276 | |
| 2025-Q4 | 356 | 331 | |
| 2026-Q1 | 302 | 269 | |
| 2026-Q2 | 102 | 94 |
| Ward | Total | Approved | Refused | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windermere and Ambleside Ward | 435 | 406 | 29 | |
| Keswick Ward | 309 | 286 | 23 | |
| Broughton & Coniston Ward | 245 | 218 | 27 | |
| Ambleside & Grasmere Ward | 222 | 197 | 25 | |
| Bowness and Lyth Ward | 213 | 194 | 19 | |
| Bowness & Levens Ward | 206 | 185 | 21 | |
| Coniston and Hawkshead Ward | 192 | 180 | 12 | |
| Bothel and Wharrels Ward | 154 | 142 | 12 | |
| Windermere Ward | 133 | 127 | 6 | |
| Greystoke and Ullswater Ward | 129 | 122 | 7 | |
| Grange and Cartmel Ward | 114 | 105 | 9 | |
| Ullswater Ward | 104 | 97 | 7 |
Not sure what you can build without planning permission? See our guides to permitted development rights and Article 4 directions.