Planning permission in North Yorkshire

In the last 12 months, 87.3% of home project applications were approved in North Yorkshire (268 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about nine weeks (median 63 days).

Across all application types, 87.9% of 6,143 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on North Yorkshire's public planning register. Data last updated: 14 April 2026.

7,351Total applications

6,143Decided

87.9%Approval rate (of decided)

5,402 Approved+741 Refused+292 Withdrawn+363 Pending+553 Outcome not determined=7,351 Total

Reports for North Yorkshire are coming soon.

We are not yet generating property reports for North Yorkshire. You can still look up an address to see its planning constraints (conservation area, listed building, Article 4 direction, flood zone), and leave your email to hear when North Yorkshire reports go live.

Look up a property in North Yorkshire See a sample report

By Development Category

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

Category	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Full planning applications	1,475	1,278	197	86.6%
Discharging planning conditions	884	872	12	98.6%
Home extensions and alterations (householder)	825	733	92	88.8%
Tree works in a conservation area	722	693	29	96.0%
Protected tree works (TPO)	514	372	142	72.4%
Prior approval (permitted development)	283	239	44	84.5%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	253	197	56	77.9%
Changing a planning condition (S73)	239	222	17	92.9%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a)	202	173	29	85.6%
Listed Building Consent	200	174	26	87.0%
Advertisement Consent	103	92	11	89.3%
Phone masts and telecoms	90	87	3	96.7%
Change of Use	76	61	15	80.3%
Full Planning (Major)	52	42	10	80.8%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	39	34	5	87.2%
Outline Planning	39	18	21	46.2%
Reserved matters (detail after outline approval)	30	30	0	no refusals recorded
Agriculture to Dwelling	23	4	19	17.4%
Other*	94	81	13	mixed types

Reserved matters (detail after outline approval): no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Screening Option (18), S106 Deed of Variation (13), Environmental impact screening and scoping (10), Demolition (9), Hedgerow Removal (7), Permission in Principle (6), Adding storeys (prior approval, Class AA) (6), Modify/Discharge Legal Agreement (5), Agricultural to Flexi Commercial (4), Comm, Bus & Services to Residential (3), NYCC application (2), Overhead electricity lines (2), Temp (Flexible) C Of Use Notification (2), Enforcement (2), LA application for LA (1), Listed Bldg Ecclesiastical Consultation (1), LA application not for LA to develop (1), Technical Details Consent - Minor (1), NYCC Proposed PROW diversion (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	207	189	91.3%
Q4 2023	511	447	87.5%
Q1 2024	475	425	89.5%
Q2 2024	518	471	90.9%
Q3 2024	531	461	86.8%
Q4 2024	501	453	90.4%
Q1 2025	484	424	87.6%
Q2 2025	507	437	86.2%
Q3 2025	533	451	84.6%
Q4 2025	514	446	86.8%
Q1 2026	481	419	87.1%
Q2 2026	41	38	92.7%

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 504 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 74.2% in Cliffe And North Duffield to 92.3% in Valley Gardens & Central Harrogate, a gap of 18.1 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Appleton Roebuck And Church Fenton	411	337	74	82.0%
Monk Fryston And South Milford	354	298	56	84.2%
Cawood And Escrick	324	271	53	83.6%
Osgoldcross	311	272	39	87.5%
Camblesforth And Carlton	235	195	40	83.0%
Cliffe And North Duffield	217	161	56	74.2%
Sherburn In Elmet	194	172	22	88.7%
Selby East	193	168	25	87.0%
Valley Gardens & Central Harrogate	181	167	14	92.3%
Washburn & Birstwith	181	165	16	91.2%
Masham & Fountains	180	159	21	88.3%
Spofforth,L Whdl,Tockwith	173	154	19	89.0%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in North Yorkshire?

In the last 12 months, 87.3% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in North Yorkshire, based on 268 decided applications. Across all application types, 87.9% of 6,143 applications decided since January 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in North Yorkshire?

The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in North Yorkshire in the last 12 months was 63 days (about nine weeks). Times vary case by case.

Do I need planning permission in North Yorkshire?

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 Yorkshire?

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.

Reports for North Yorkshire are coming soon. Look up an address now to see its constraints, and join the waitlist.

Look up a property in North Yorkshire See a sample report