Planiverse / Authorities / Plymouth

Planning permission in Plymouth

In the last 12 months, 97.8% of home project applications were approved in Plymouth (137 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about nine weeks (median 61 days).

Across all application types, 93.3% of 3,486 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on Plymouth's public planning register. Data last updated: 19 July 2026.

4,900Total applications
3,486Decided
93.3%Approval rate (of decided)
3,251 Approved+235 Refused+160 Withdrawn+325 Pending+929 Outcome not determined=4,900 Total
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By Development Category

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

CategoryDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Full planning applications 1,635 1,525 110
93.3%
Protected tree works (TPO) 477 430 47
90.1%
Discharging planning conditions 416 411 5
98.8%
Listed Building Consent 251 242 9
96.4%
Tree works in a conservation area 222 222 0 no refusals recorded
Advertisement Consent 152 145 7
95.4%
Changing a planning condition (S73) 124 117 7
94.4%
GPD All others 54 49 5
90.7%
Home extensions and alterations (householder) 41 38 3 outcome not determined
GPDO PT16 25 19 6
76.0%
GPDO PT11 20 18 2
90.0%
Other* 69 35 34 mixed types

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

Home extensions and alterations (householder): 118 applications where we could not determine the outcome from the data we hold, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) (11), Minor Amendment Request (9), Permission in Principle (9), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (8), Outline Planning (8), Certificate of lawfulness (existing use) (7), GPD Office to Residential (7), GPD Retail to Residential (5), MAJ 10 Weeks (3), Conservation Habitat (2).

Quarterly Trend

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

QuarterDecidedApprovedApproval rate
Q3 2023 114 106
93.0%
Q4 2023 246 228
92.7%
Q1 2024 256 240
93.8%
Q2 2024 268 251
93.7%
Q3 2024 294 279
94.9%
Q4 2024 303 287
94.7%
Q1 2025 268 245
91.4%
Q2 2025 299 267
89.3%
Q3 2025 254 242
95.3%
Q4 2025 267 250
93.6%
Q1 2026 245 225
91.8%
Q2 2026 30 29
96.7%
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress) 7 7 sample too small
By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 349 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 90.2% in EGGBUCKLAND to 97.1% in PLYMPTON ERLE, a gap of 6.9 percentage points.

WardDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
ST PETER AND THE WATERFRONT 569 543 26
95.4%
MOORVIEW 289 273 16
94.5%
COMPTON 270 246 24
91.1%
PLYMSTOCK RADFORD 243 225 18
92.6%
STOKE 208 196 12
94.2%
DEVONPORT 199 184 15
92.5%
BUDSHEAD 171 155 16
90.6%
PLYMSTOCK DUNSTONE 169 163 6
96.4%
EGGBUCKLAND 153 138 15
90.2%
PLYMPTON ST MARY 148 139 9
93.9%
PEVERELL 142 134 8
94.4%
PLYMPTON ERLE 140 136 4
97.1%
Frequently asked questions
What is the planning approval rate in Plymouth?
In the last 12 months, 97.8% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Plymouth, based on 137 decided applications. Across all application types, 93.3% of 3,486 applications decided since January 2023 were approved.
How long does a planning decision take in Plymouth?
The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Plymouth in the last 12 months was 61 days (about nine weeks). Times vary case by case.
Do I need planning permission in Plymouth?
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 Plymouth?
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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