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South Downs National Park

In the last 12 months, 93.8% of householder applications were approved in South Downs National Park (97 decided). A typical householder decision takes about thirteen weeks (median 92 days).

Full planning applications: 92.2% approved (51 decided).

Across all application types on record (2023-01-27–2026-04-07): 92.3% of 2,257 decisions approved.

2,832Total applications
2,083Approved
174Refused
126Withdrawn
21Pending
92.3%Approval rate (all types)
Check a property in South Downs National Park
Decision Level
2,062LA Delegated Decision
752SDNPA Delegated Decision
10LA Committee Decision
8SDNPA Committee Decision
By Development Category
CategoryTotalApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Householder 552 511 41
92.6%
Tree Works (Conservation Area) 330 328 2
99.4%
Discharge of Conditions 321 307 14
95.6%
Full Planning Application 270 227 43
84.1%
Listed Building Consent 244 231 13
94.7%
Tree Works (TPO) 113 109 4
96.5%
Variation/Removal of Conditions (S73) 99 94 5
94.9%
Non-Material Amendment (S96a) 73 65 8
89.0%
Telecommunications 48 46 2
95.8%
Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed) 45 31 14
68.9%
Certificate of Lawfulness (Existing) 35 27 8
77.1%
Prior Approval (Other) 28 21 7
75.0%
Prior Approval (Class Q — Agricultural to Residential) 27 20 7
74.1%
Overhead Electricity Lines 17 17 0
100.0%
Advertisement Consent 13 10 3
76.9%
Change of Use 12 9 3
75.0%
EA Consultation on Environmental Permit 12 12 0
100.0%
Environmental Impact Assessment (Screening/Scoping) 8 8 0
100.0%
Reserved Matters 3 3 0
100.0%
Habitats Regulations Assessment 3 3 0
100.0%
Statutory Undertaking PD 1 1 0
100.0%
Modification to Planning Obligation 1 1 0
100.0%
Water or hydraulic power undertakings 1 1 0
100.0%
Planning Permission in Principle 1 1 0
100.0%
Quarterly Trend
QuarterDecidedApprovedApproval rate
2023-Q3 151 142
94.0%
2023-Q4 194 184
94.8%
2024-Q1 199 180
90.5%
2024-Q2 206 185
89.8%
2024-Q3 193 165
85.5%
2024-Q4 241 223
92.5%
2025-Q1 211 195
92.4%
2025-Q2 193 181
93.8%
2025-Q3 210 200
95.2%
2025-Q4 126 118
93.7%
2026-Q1 104 98
94.2%
2026-Q2 15 14
93.3%
By Ward
WardTotalApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Upper Meon Valley Ward 127 123 4
96.9%
Midhurst Ward CH 111 107 4
96.4%
Lewes Priory Ward 104 93 11
89.4%
Fernhurst Ward CH 101 89 12
88.1%
Harting Ward CH 98 93 5
94.9%
Fittleworth Ward CH 97 85 12
87.6%
Binsted, Bentley & Selborne Ward 82 73 9
89.0%
Buriton & East Meon Ward 78 72 6
92.3%
Central Meon Valley Ward 75 71 4
94.7%
Lewes Castle Ward 75 63 12
84.0%
Lewes Bridge Ward 75 68 7
90.7%
Petersfield St Peter's Ward 73 68 5
93.2%
Planning guides

Not sure what you can build without planning permission? See our guides to permitted development rights and Article 4 directions.