Planiverse / Authorities / South Cambridgeshire

Planning permission in South Cambridgeshire

In the last 12 months, 91.3% of home project applications were approved in South Cambridgeshire (92 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about eight weeks (median 54 days).

Across all application types, 93.4% of 2,787 applications decided since May 2023 were approved. Based on South Cambridgeshire's public planning register. Data last updated: 9 August 2026.

4,473Total applications
2,787Decided
93.4%Approval rate (of decided)
2,603 Approved+184 Refused+164 Withdrawn+1,393 Pending+129 Outcome not determined=4,473 Total
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By Development Category

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

CategoryDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Protected tree works (TPO) 722 688 34
95.3%
Discharging planning conditions 722 702 20
97.2%
Home extensions and alterations (householder) 494 458 36
92.7%
Full planning applications 242 213 29
88.0%
Listed Building Consent 124 117 7
94.4%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a) 113 103 10
91.2%
Changing a planning condition (S73) 106 98 8
92.5%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) 88 88 0 no refusals recorded
Prior approval (permitted development) 87 62 25
71.3%
Advertisement Consent 45 39 6
86.7%
Other* 44 35 9 mixed types

Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development): no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Outline Planning (13), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (11), Tree works in a conservation area (7), Environmental impact screening and scoping (4), S106A (4), Permission in Principle (3), Hedgerow Removal (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 94 91
96.8%
Q4 2023 246 230
93.5%
Q1 2024 251 233
92.8%
Q2 2024 247 233
94.3%
Q3 2024 260 244
93.8%
Q4 2024 250 231
92.4%
Q1 2025 278 259
93.2%
Q2 2025 235 221
94.0%
Q3 2025 283 256
90.5%
Q4 2025 233 224
96.1%
Q1 2026 224 205
91.5%
Q2 2026 19 19 sample too small
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress) 15 15 sample too small
By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 221 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 90.3% in Market to 97.6% in Newnham, a gap of 7.3 percentage points.

WardDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Market 196 177 19
90.3%
Newnham 169 165 4
97.6%
Queen Ediths 145 138 7
95.2%
Shelford 143 132 11
92.3%
Fen Ditton & Fulbourn 121 118 3
97.5%
Castle 109 103 6
94.5%
Harston & Comberton 108 104 4
96.3%
Petersfield 101 96 5
95.0%
Melbourn 86 79 7
91.9%
Milton & Waterbeach 84 78 6
92.9%
Linton 82 79 3
96.3%
Histon & Impington 77 71 6
92.2%
Frequently asked questions
What is the planning approval rate in South Cambridgeshire?
In the last 12 months, 91.3% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in South Cambridgeshire, based on 92 decided applications. Across all application types, 93.4% of 2,787 applications decided since May 2023 were approved.
How long does a planning decision take in South Cambridgeshire?
The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in South Cambridgeshire in the last 12 months was 54 days (about eight weeks). Times vary case by case.
Do I need planning permission in South Cambridgeshire?
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 South Cambridgeshire?
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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