Planning permission in Northumberland

We don't yet have enough recent decisions in Northumberland to show a reliable approval rate. The figures below cover all application types on record.

Outcome data is limited for Northumberland: only 1,049 of 8,934 applications on record have a decision we can read, so we do not show an approval rate. Based on Northumberland's public planning register. Data last updated: 24 May 2026.

8,934Total applications
1,049Decided
Not shownCoverage below 50%
955 Approved+94 Refused+5 Withdrawn+7,831 Pending+49 Outcome not determined=8,934 Total
Reports for Northumberland are coming soon.

We are not yet generating property reports for Northumberland. 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 Northumberland reports go live.

Decision Level
8,250Delegated
14Committee
By Development Category

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

CategoryDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Full planning applications 327 276 51
84.4%
Discharging planning conditions 170 150 20
88.2%
Miscellaneous 135 132 3
97.8%
Tree works in a conservation area 85 85 0 no refusals recorded
Protected tree works (TPO) 49 44 5
89.8%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a) 49 47 2
95.9%
Changing a planning condition (S73) 47 46 1
97.9%
Listed Building Consent 39 36 3
92.3%
Prior approval (permitted development) 31 28 3
90.3%
Advertisement Consent 21 20 1
95.2%
Other* 96 91 5 mixed types

Tree works in a conservation area: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) (19), Electricity Determination (18), Certificate of lawfulness (existing use) (11), Larger extensions (householder prior approval) (8), Prior Approval Agric to Residential (6), Phone masts and telecoms (6), County Council Development (5), Change of Use (5), Prior Notification of Road (4), PA Solar PV Panels non-domestic (3), COU Agricultural Building under Class R (3), Demolition Determination Application (3), Hedgerow Removal (2), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (1), Cert of Lawfulness of Prop Works to LBC (1), Outline Planning (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 363 335
92.3%
Q4 2023 307 273
88.9%
Q1 2024 15 13 sample too small
Q2 2024 4 4 sample too small
Q3 2024 4 3 sample too small
Q4 2024 6 6 sample too small
Q1 2025 2 2 sample too small
Q2 2025 4 4 sample too small
Q3 2025 9 8 sample too small
Q4 2025 10 7 sample too small
Q1 2026 1 1 sample too small
By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 79 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 84.4% in Ponteland North to 100.0% in Alnwick, a gap of 15.6 percentage points.

WardDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Longhorsley 60 51 9
85.0%
Bamburgh 42 39 3
92.9%
Haydon And Hadrian 36 32 4
88.9%
Shilbottle 35 34 1
97.1%
South Tynedale 34 31 3
91.2%
Ponteland North 32 27 5
84.4%
Amble West With Warkworth 32 30 2
93.8%
Corbridge 31 30 1
96.8%
Alnwick 30 30 0
100.0%
Rothbury 29 28 1
96.6%
Ponteland West 28 24 4
85.7%
Longhoughton 27 25 2
92.6%
Frequently asked questions
What is the planning approval rate in Northumberland?
Across all application types, 91.0% of 1,049 applications decided in Northumberland since February 2023 were approved.
Do I need planning permission in Northumberland?
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 Northumberland?
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 Northumberland are coming soon. Look up an address now to see its constraints, and join the waitlist.