In the last 12 months, 84.8% of householder applications were approved in Luton (277 decided). A typical householder decision takes about eleven weeks (median 78 days).
Full planning applications: 55.6% approved (153 decided).
Across all application types on record (2023-01-11–2026-06-24): 80.7% of 3,516 decisions approved.
| Category | Total | Approved | Refused | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Householder | 1,319 | 1,081 | 238 | |
| Full Planning Application | 541 | 305 | 236 | |
| Discharge of Conditions | 379 | 364 | 15 | |
| Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed) | 354 | 297 | 57 | |
| Householder (Prior Approval) | 349 | 328 | 21 | |
| Certificate of Lawfulness (Existing) | 78 | 62 | 16 | |
| Tree Works (TPO) | 77 | 70 | 7 | |
| Advertisement Consent | 75 | 61 | 14 | |
| Non-Material Amendment (S96a) | 74 | 71 | 3 | |
| Variation/Removal of Conditions (S73) | 61 | 50 | 11 | |
| Change of Use | 58 | 20 | 38 | |
| Prior - Class E to Resi | 17 | 12 | 5 | |
| Reserved Matters | 12 | 12 | 0 | |
| Tree Works (Conservation Area) | 11 | 11 | 0 | |
| Listed Building Consent | 11 | 11 | 0 | |
| Demolition | 10 | 10 | 0 | |
| S106 Requirements to be agreed | 10 | 10 | 0 | |
| Telecommunications | 9 | 9 | 0 | |
| Enlargement dwelling by add. stories | 8 | 2 | 6 | |
| Application for a temporary duration | 8 | 7 | 1 | |
| Prior - Solar Photo Voltaics non dom | 8 | 8 | 0 | |
| GPDO consultation | 7 | 6 | 1 | |
| Outline Planning | 7 | 3 | 4 | |
| Legal Agreement Modification | 6 | 6 | 0 | |
| Prior - Offices to Resi | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
| Environmental Impact Assessment (Screening/Scoping) | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
| Regulation 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
| Prior household fast track | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
| New dwellings on detached flats | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Prior Approval (Other) | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Permission in Principle | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| Electricity Act | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Prior - Class E mxd use incl to 2 flats | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Consultaton - Statutory Undertakers | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Quarter | Decided | Approved | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-Q3 | 256 | 206 | |
| 2023-Q4 | 265 | 201 | |
| 2024-Q1 | 256 | 205 | |
| 2024-Q2 | 319 | 257 | |
| 2024-Q3 | 328 | 252 | |
| 2024-Q4 | 294 | 246 | |
| 2025-Q1 | 251 | 194 | |
| 2025-Q2 | 284 | 233 | |
| 2025-Q3 | 279 | 237 | |
| 2025-Q4 | 320 | 266 | |
| 2026-Q1 | 289 | 229 | |
| 2026-Q2 | 36 | 28 |
| Ward | Total | Approved | Refused | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH | 447 | 352 | 95 | |
| CHALLNEY | 271 | 228 | 43 | |
| SAINTS | 231 | 178 | 53 | |
| DALLOW | 209 | 168 | 41 | |
| ROUND GREEN | 202 | 161 | 41 | |
| LEWSEY | 195 | 158 | 37 | |
| BISCOT | 190 | 139 | 51 | |
| LEAGRAVE | 188 | 149 | 39 | |
| FARLEY | 184 | 155 | 29 | |
| ICKNIELD | 181 | 143 | 38 | |
| HIGH TOWN | 168 | 132 | 36 | |
| STOPSLEY | 166 | 152 | 14 |
Not sure what you can build without planning permission? See our guides to permitted development rights and Article 4 directions.