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Planning permission in Mole Valley

In the last 12 months, 76.0% of home project applications were approved in Mole Valley (441 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about eleven weeks (median 80 days).

Across all application types, 77.4% of 5,599 applications decided since April 2023 were approved. Based on Mole Valley's public planning register. Data last updated: 9 August 2026.

6,539Total applications
5,599Decided
77.4%Approval rate (of decided)
4,334 Approved+1,265 Refused+189 Withdrawn+510 Pending+241 Outcome not determined=6,539 Total
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By Development Category

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

CategoryDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Home extensions and alterations (householder) 1,719 1,368 351
79.6%
Discharging planning conditions 654 585 69
89.4%
Full planning applications 634 365 269
57.6%
Tree works in a conservation area 595 550 45
92.4%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) 391 250 141
63.9%
Protected tree works (TPO) 244 196 48
80.3%
Variance of Conditions 223 170 53
76.2%
Listed Building Consent 206 186 20
90.3%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a) 174 113 61
64.9%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use) 99 72 27
72.7%
Detailed Householder 63 55 8
87.3%
Advertisement Consent 62 47 15
75.8%
PN - Agricultural 52 37 15
71.2%
PN - Part 3 Class MA Commercial Business Service to Dwellings 48 30 18
62.5%
Consultation from Neighbouring Authority 38 35 3
92.1%
Detailed Major 32 14 18
43.8%
Tree Felling Consent 30 26 4
86.7%
Approval of Conditions 29 27 2
93.1%
PN - Agriculture to Residential 26 11 15
42.3%
Change of Use 25 20 5
80.0%
Surrey County Council-Deemed 24 23 1
95.8%
Proposed Certificate of Lawful Use 20 16 4
80.0%
Other* 211 138 73 mixed types

* Other combines smaller categories: Conservation Area Trees (19), Variance of Conditions Major (18), Consultation from Surrey County Council (17), PIP - Permission in Principle Others (16), Outline Planning (13), Electricity Board Consultation (13), Minor Non Material Changes (12), Change of use to homes (prior approval, Class MA) (11), Environmental impact screening and scoping (10), PN - Others (10), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (8), PN - Agricultural Buildings to Flexible Uses (8), PN - Part 1 Class AA Residential additional storey (7), Phone masts and telecoms (6), PN - Householder 2013 (5), Variation of a Legal Agreement (4), PN - Demolition (4), PN - Office to Residential (4), Asset of Community Value (3), Discharge of S106 Obligations (3), Detailed (3), Advertisement (2), PN - Retail to Residential (2), Outline Major (2), Demolition (2), PN - Part 20 Class ZA Dem of buildings and construction of new Dwellings (2), Removal of Legal Agreement (1), PN - Part 20 Class A New Dwellings on Detached Blocks of Flats (1), PN - Railways (1), PN - Part 3 Class G Commercial to a Mixed Use (1), Adding storeys (prior approval, Class AA) (1), PN - Part 20 Class AA New Dwellings on Detached buildings in Comm/Mixed Use (1).

Quarterly Trend

The most recent three years. Earlier decisions are included in the totals above but not in this chart.

QuarterDecidedApprovedApproval rate
Q3 2023 272 214
78.7%
Q4 2023 480 373
77.7%
Q1 2024 432 335
77.5%
Q2 2024 482 366
75.9%
Q3 2024 455 361
79.3%
Q4 2024 478 372
77.8%
Q1 2025 452 336
74.3%
Q2 2025 532 403
75.8%
Q3 2025 448 328
73.2%
Q4 2025 459 348
75.8%
Q1 2026 320 255
79.7%
Q2 2026 330 270
81.8%
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress) 154 125
81.2%
By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 130 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 61.8% in Holmwoods and Beare Green to 88.4% in Bookham West, a gap of 26.6 percentage points.

WardDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Mickleham, Westcott and Okewood 351 263 88
74.9%
Capel, Leigh, Newdigate and Charlwood 301 188 113
62.5%
Brockham, Betchworth, Buckland, Box Hill & Headley 267 208 59
77.9%
Dorking North 218 177 41
81.2%
Leatherhead South 212 170 42
80.2%
Dorking South 191 154 37
80.6%
Fetcham 183 138 45
75.4%
Ashtead Lanes and Common 168 129 39
76.8%
Ashtead Park 155 127 28
81.9%
Bookham West 146 129 17
88.4%
Bookham East and Eastwick Park 129 103 26
79.8%
Holmwoods and Beare Green 102 63 39
61.8%
Frequently asked questions
What is the planning approval rate in Mole Valley?
In the last 12 months, 76.0% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Mole Valley, based on 441 decided applications. Across all application types, 77.4% of 5,599 applications decided since April 2023 were approved.
How long does a planning decision take in Mole Valley?
The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Mole Valley in the last 12 months was 80 days (about eleven weeks). Times vary case by case.
Do I need planning permission in Mole Valley?
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 Mole Valley?
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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