Planning permission in Manchester

In the last 12 months, 92.5% of home project applications were approved in Manchester (439 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about eight weeks (median 56 days).

Across all application types, 88.4% of 10,339 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on Manchester's public planning register. Data last updated: 2 August 2026.

12,484Total applications

10,339Decided

88.4%Approval rate (of decided)

9,139 Approved+1,200 Refused+636 Withdrawn+1,000 Pending+509 Outcome not determined=12,484 Total

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Decision Level

10,552Delegated

104Committee

By Development Category

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

Category	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Discharging planning conditions	2,835	2,568	267	90.6%
Home extensions and alterations (householder)	2,221	2,048	173	92.2%
Full planning applications	1,676	1,359	317	81.1%
Advertisement Consent	556	433	123	77.9%
Listed Building Consent	483	465	18	96.3%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a)	438	406	32	92.7%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	423	311	112	73.5%
Tree works in a conservation area	414	411	3	99.3%
Changing a planning condition (S73)	355	326	29	91.8%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	243	178	65	73.3%
Protected tree works (TPO)	197	188	9	95.4%
Larger extensions (householder prior approval)	139	132	7	95.0%
Regulation 3 Consent	116	116	0	no refusals recorded
Prior approval (permitted development)	83	68	15	81.9%
Phone masts and telecoms	54	43	11	79.6%
Demolition	39	38	1	97.4%
Change of use to homes (prior approval, Class MA)	35	29	6	82.9%
Other*	32	20	12	mixed types

Regulation 3 Consent: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Enforcement (12), Outline Planning (7), Change of Use (7), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (4), Permission In Principle Application (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	303	280	92.4%
Q4 2023	898	811	90.3%
Q1 2024	914	793	86.8%
Q2 2024	904	778	86.1%
Q3 2024	881	778	88.3%
Q4 2024	889	766	86.2%
Q1 2025	700	621	88.7%
Q2 2025	996	875	87.9%
Q3 2025	883	780	88.3%
Q4 2025	952	830	87.2%
Q1 2026	772	687	89.0%
Q2 2026	13	13	sample too small
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress)	2	2	sample too small

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 840 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 83.3% in Cheetham Ward to 93.6% in Hulme Ward, a gap of 10.3 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Deansgate Ward	1,562	1,447	115	92.6%
Piccadilly Ward	902	813	89	90.1%
Didsbury West Ward	563	520	43	92.4%
Chorlton Ward	433	389	44	89.8%
Didsbury East Ward	394	363	31	92.1%
Chorlton Park Ward	374	332	42	88.8%
Hulme Ward	360	337	23	93.6%
Cheetham Ward	359	299	60	83.3%
Ancoats & Beswick Ward	352	328	24	93.2%
Ardwick Ward	350	314	36	89.7%
Whalley Range Ward	329	289	40	87.8%
Crumpsall Ward	303	259	44	85.5%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in Manchester?

In the last 12 months, 92.5% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Manchester, based on 439 decided applications. Across all application types, 88.4% of 10,339 applications decided since January 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in Manchester?

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

Do I need planning permission in Manchester?

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 Manchester?

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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