Planning permission in Mid Sussex

In the last 12 months, 92.4% of home project applications were approved in Mid Sussex (382 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about nine weeks (median 66 days).

Across all application types, 93.7% of 5,879 applications decided since February 2023 were approved. Based on Mid Sussex's public planning register. Data last updated: 9 April 2026.

6,995Total applications

5,879Decided

93.7%Approval rate (of decided)

5,510 Approved+369 Refused+383 Withdrawn+704 Pending+29 Outcome not determined=6,995 Total

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By Development Category

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

Category	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Home extensions and alterations (householder)	2,035	1,914	121	94.1%
Discharging planning conditions	818	810	8	99.0%
Protected tree works (TPO)	628	604	24	96.2%
Tree works in a conservation area	453	452	1	99.8%
Full planning applications	287	257	30	89.5%
Changing a planning condition (S73)	216	206	10	95.4%
Listed Building	200	186	14	93.0%
Residential Extension	198	186	12	93.9%
Non-Material Amendment	170	120	50	70.6%
Change of Use	117	93	24	79.5%
Demolition	101	87	14	86.1%
Trees	98	97	1	99.0%
Prior Approval	95	91	4	95.8%
Residential New Build	77	58	19	75.3%
Signage	73	71	2	97.3%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	70	63	7	90.0%
Commercial	49	46	3	93.9%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	30	20	10	66.7%
Agricultural Prior Not. - Building	30	30	0	no refusals recorded
Overhead Electricity Line	26	26	0	no refusals recorded
Other*	108	93	15	mixed types

Agricultural Prior Not. - Building: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

Overhead Electricity Line: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Mod. / Discharge of Planning Obligation (13), Lawful Development (12), Minerals and waste (10), Agricultural Prior Not. - Road (8), Environmental impact screening and scoping (8), Prior approval (permitted development) (7), Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a) (6), Prior Not. Solar Panels on Non-domestic (6), Permission in Principle (6), Phone masts and telecoms (5), Prior Not. - Agricultural to Dwelling (4), Listed Building Consent (4), Conversion to Flats (4), Outline Planning (3), Prior Not. Commercial Film Making (3), Adding storeys (prior approval, Class AA) (3), Advertisement Consent (2), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (1), Prior Not. - Agric. to Flexible Use (1), Conservation Area (1), Felling Licence (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	276	259	93.8%
Q4 2023	503	471	93.6%
Q1 2024	466	431	92.5%
Q2 2024	487	461	94.7%
Q3 2024	525	493	93.9%
Q4 2024	466	436	93.6%
Q1 2025	437	403	92.2%
Q2 2025	539	503	93.3%
Q3 2025	477	443	92.9%
Q4 2025	594	563	94.8%
Q1 2026	456	431	94.5%
Q2 2026	36	35	97.2%

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 511 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 89.9% in Copthorne And Worth to 96.8% in Haywards Heath - Lucastes And Bolnore, a gap of 6.9 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Cuckfield, Bolney And Ansty	485	449	36	92.6%
Ardingly, Balcombe And Turners Hill	429	393	36	91.6%
Hurstpierpoint	426	394	32	92.5%
Lindfield Rural And High Weald	425	397	28	93.4%
Lindfield	421	400	21	95.0%
Hassocks	352	330	22	93.8%
Burgess Hill - Franklands	301	276	25	91.7%
Downland Villages	263	252	11	95.8%
Haywards Heath - Lucastes And Bolnore	218	211	7	96.8%
Crawley Down	217	201	16	92.6%
Copthorne And Worth	207	186	21	89.9%
East Grinstead - Town	189	180	9	95.2%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in Mid Sussex?

In the last 12 months, 92.4% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Mid Sussex, based on 382 decided applications. Across all application types, 93.7% of 5,879 applications decided since February 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in Mid Sussex?

The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Mid Sussex in the last 12 months was 66 days (about nine weeks). Times vary case by case.

Do I need planning permission in Mid Sussex?

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 Mid Sussex?

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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