Planning permission in Maidstone

In the last 12 months, 96.5% of home project applications were approved in Maidstone (86 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about eight weeks (median 56 days).

Across all application types, 87.9% of 3,043 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on Maidstone's public planning register. Data last updated: 13 April 2026.

3,322Total applications

3,043Decided

87.9%Approval rate (of decided)

2,676 Approved+367 Refused+124 Withdrawn+65 Pending+90 Outcome not determined=3,322 Total

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Decision Level

3,287Delegated

2Committee

By Development Category

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

Category	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Full planning applications	1,030	878	152	85.2%
Discharging planning conditions	839	797	42	95.0%
Tree works in a conservation area	253	253	0	no refusals recorded
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	183	137	46	74.9%
Protected tree works (TPO)	179	160	19	89.4%
Listed Building Consent	133	105	28	78.9%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a)	118	102	16	86.4%
Prior approval (permitted development)	97	76	21	78.4%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	53	44	9	83.0%
Barn to home conversion (prior approval, Class Q)	25	17	8	68.0%
Adjoining Authority Consultation	21	12	9	57.1%
Advertisement Consent	21	17	4	81.0%
Other*	91	78	13	mixed types

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

* Other combines smaller categories: Minerals and waste (18), Overhead Electricity Line (15), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (12), Phone masts and telecoms (12), Change of use to homes (prior approval, Class MA) (8), Outline Planning (8), Modify Section 106 Agreement Under 5 yrs (5), Modify Section 106 Agreement (4), Hybrid Applications (2), No Code (2), Biodiversity Gain Plan (2), Permission in Principle (1), Adding storeys (prior approval, Class AA) (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	121	93	76.9%
Q4 2023	273	235	86.1%
Q1 2024	277	237	85.6%
Q2 2024	248	217	87.5%
Q3 2024	288	243	84.4%
Q4 2024	240	213	88.8%
Q1 2025	253	220	87.0%
Q2 2025	239	220	92.1%
Q3 2025	260	236	90.8%
Q4 2025	298	271	90.9%
Q1 2026	132	118	89.4%
Q2 2026	3	3	sample too small

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 184 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 75.1% in Marden And Yalding to 98.6% in West Downs, a gap of 23.5 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Marden And Yalding	185	139	46	75.1%
High Street	134	117	17	87.3%
Boughton And Courtenay	124	118	6	95.2%
Harrietsham, Lenham And North Downs	124	100	24	80.6%
Headcorn And Sutton Valence	107	86	21	80.4%
Staplehurst	101	86	15	85.1%
Hartlip, Newington And Upchurch	89	82	7	92.1%
Boughton Monchelsea And Chart Sutton	86	71	15	82.6%
Boxley Downs	82	74	8	90.2%
East Downs	72	65	7	90.3%
Watling	72	70	2	97.2%
West Downs	70	69	1	98.6%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in Maidstone?

In the last 12 months, 96.5% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Maidstone, based on 86 decided applications. Across all application types, 87.9% of 3,043 applications decided since January 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in Maidstone?

The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Maidstone in the last 12 months was 56 days (about eight weeks). Times vary case by case.

Do I need planning permission in Maidstone?

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 Maidstone?

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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