In the last 12 months, 93.2% of householder applications were approved in North Hertfordshire (222 decided). A typical householder decision takes about seven weeks (median 50 days).
Full planning applications: 89.5% approved (95 decided).
Across all application types on record (2023-01-27–2026-07-01): 93.6% of 3,326 decisions approved.
| Category | Total | Approved | Refused | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Householder | 1,000 | 923 | 77 | |
| Tree Works (Conservation Area) | 557 | 557 | 0 | |
| Discharge of Conditions | 505 | 499 | 6 | |
| Full Planning Application | 330 | 281 | 49 | |
| Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed) | 199 | 171 | 28 | |
| Listed Building Consent | 160 | 153 | 7 | |
| Telecommunications | 110 | 104 | 6 | |
| Non-Material Amendment (S96a) | 99 | 91 | 8 | |
| Tree Works (TPO) | 89 | 89 | 0 | |
| Variation/Removal of Conditions (S73) | 81 | 72 | 9 | |
| Advertisement Consent | 37 | 37 | 0 | |
| Neighbour Consultation Scheme | 32 | 30 | 2 | |
| Prior Approval (Other) | 28 | 20 | 8 | |
| Certificate of Lawfulness (Existing) | 25 | 22 | 3 | |
| Consultaton - Statutory Undertakers | 13 | 13 | 0 | |
| Prior Approval (Class Q — Agricultural to Residential) | 9 | 6 | 3 | |
| Reserved Matters | 8 | 8 | 0 | |
| Outline Planning | 8 | 3 | 5 | |
| Prior Approval (Class MA — Commercial to Residential) | 7 | 6 | 1 | |
| County Consultation | 5 | 5 | 0 | |
| NHC Consultee | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
| Adjoining Authorities Consultation | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
| Environmental Impact Assessment (Screening/Scoping) | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Demolition | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Details of Condition | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Permission in Principle | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Trees (Tree Preservation Order) | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Hybrid Application | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| S106A Obligations formal-more than 5yrs | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Quarter | Decided | Approved | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-Q3 | 255 | 245 | |
| 2023-Q4 | 269 | 250 | |
| 2024-Q1 | 240 | 210 | |
| 2024-Q2 | 311 | 285 | |
| 2024-Q3 | 264 | 250 | |
| 2024-Q4 | 238 | 221 | |
| 2025-Q1 | 249 | 232 | |
| 2025-Q2 | 290 | 275 | |
| 2025-Q3 | 277 | 266 | |
| 2025-Q4 | 248 | 237 | |
| 2026-Q1 | 263 | 238 | |
| 2026-Q2 | 77 | 76 |
| Ward | Total | Approved | Refused | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitchwood Offa And Hoo Historic | 161 | 149 | 12 | |
| Ermine Ward | 158 | 154 | 4 | |
| Hitchin Priory Ward | 143 | 131 | 12 | |
| Letchworth South West Ward | 135 | 130 | 5 | |
| Hitchin Highbury Ward Historic | 131 | 114 | 17 | |
| Hitchin Bearton Ward | 125 | 109 | 16 | |
| Letchworth South West Historic | 118 | 115 | 3 | |
| Knebworth Ward | 110 | 102 | 8 | |
| Codicote And Kimpton Ward | 108 | 98 | 10 | |
| Graveley, St Ippolyts And Wymondley Ward | 105 | 102 | 3 | |
| Offa Ward | 97 | 86 | 11 | |
| Arbury Ward | 95 | 92 | 3 |
Not sure what you can build without planning permission? See our guides to permitted development rights and Article 4 directions.