Planiverse / Authorities / North Hertfordshire

Planning permission in North Hertfordshire

In the last 12 months, 94.0% of home project applications were approved in North Hertfordshire (400 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about seven weeks (median 51 days).

Across all application types, 93.6% of 6,441 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on North Hertfordshire's public planning register. Data last updated: 22 August 2026.

7,762Total applications
6,441Decided
93.6%Approval rate (of decided)
6,030 Approved+411 Refused+177 Withdrawn+618 Pending+526 Outcome not determined=7,762 Total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) 1,969 1,832 137
93.0%
Tree works in a conservation area 1,107 1,104 3
99.7%
Full planning applications 616 519 97
84.3%
Discharging planning conditions 503 497 6
98.8%
Details of Condition 490 484 6
98.8%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) 369 315 54
85.4%
Listed Building Consent 343 324 19
94.5%
Phone masts and telecoms 222 210 12
94.6%
Trees (Tree Preservation Order) 109 104 5
95.4%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a) 101 90 11 outcome not determined
Protected tree works (TPO) 88 88 0 no refusals recorded
Changing a planning condition (S73) 81 72 9
88.9%
Section 73 Application 81 77 4
95.1%
Advertisement Consent 67 65 2
97.0%
Neighbour Consultation Scheme 50 46 4
92.0%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use) 48 44 4
91.7%
Prior approval (permitted development) 48 37 11
77.1%
Consultaton - Statutory Undertakers 26 26 0 no refusals recorded
Other* 123 96 27 mixed types

Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a): 119 applications where we could not determine the outcome from the data we hold, so no approval rate is shown.

Protected tree works (TPO): no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

Consultaton - Statutory Undertakers: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Outline Planning (16), Permission in Principle (10), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (9), Barn to home conversion (prior approval, Class Q) (9), Lawful Development Cert Listed Building (9), County Consultation (9), Adjoining Authorities Consultation (8), Change of use to homes (prior approval, Class MA) (7), Prior Approval Class MA - Comm to Resi (7), NHC Consultee (6), Environmental impact screening and scoping (5), Demolition (5), Prior Approval Class Q Agric to Dwelling (4), Prior Approval Class R Agric to Flex Use (4), Hybrid Application (2), S106A Obligations formal-more than 5yrs (2), Prior Approval: Additional Storey/s (2), Section 73A Application (2), Prior ApprovalSchedule 2 Part 14 Class J (2), Full Planning Permission (1), Prior Notification: Private Ways (1), Technical Details Consent Minor Housing (1), Prior ApprovalSch2 Part 14 Class A solar (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 178 170
95.5%
Q4 2023 512 479
93.6%
Q1 2024 424 380
89.6%
Q2 2024 561 519
92.5%
Q3 2024 484 455
94.0%
Q4 2024 487 457
93.8%
Q1 2025 469 434
92.5%
Q2 2025 617 581
94.2%
Q3 2025 508 481
94.7%
Q4 2025 510 491
96.3%
Q1 2026 480 440
91.7%
Q2 2026 167 154
92.2%
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress) 40 40
100.0%
By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 528 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 89.5% in Hitchin Bearton Ward to 98.1% in Ermine Ward, a gap of 8.6 percentage points.

WardDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Ermine Ward 319 313 6
98.1%
Hitchwood Offa And Hoo Historic 312 294 18
94.2%
Letchworth South West Ward 289 277 12
95.8%
Graveley, St Ippolyts And Wymondley Ward 263 253 10
96.2%
Hitchin Highbury Ward Historic 249 223 26
89.6%
Hitchin Priory Ward 242 223 19
92.1%
Hitchin Bearton Ward 220 197 23
89.5%
Letchworth South West Historic 212 208 4
98.1%
Offa Ward 199 183 16
92.0%
Knebworth Ward 197 184 13
93.4%
Hitchin Highbury Ward 194 174 20
89.7%
Arbury Ward 190 183 7
96.3%
Frequently asked questions
What is the planning approval rate in North Hertfordshire?
In the last 12 months, 94.0% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in North Hertfordshire, based on 400 decided applications. Across all application types, 93.6% of 6,441 applications decided since January 2023 were approved.
How long does a planning decision take in North Hertfordshire?
The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in North Hertfordshire in the last 12 months was 51 days (about seven weeks). Times vary case by case.
Do I need planning permission in North Hertfordshire?
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 North Hertfordshire?
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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