Planning permission in South Staffordshire

In the last 12 months, 86.5% of home project applications were approved in South Staffordshire (251 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about nine weeks (median 64 days).

Across all application types, 87.6% of 3,287 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on South Staffordshire's public planning register. Data last updated: 13 August 2026.

3,999Total applications

3,287Decided

87.6%Approval rate (of decided)

2,878 Approved+409 Refused+133 Withdrawn+487 Pending+92 Outcome not determined=3,999 Total

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By Development Category

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

Category	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Home extensions and alterations (householder)	1,135	1,024	111	90.2%
Full planning applications	458	334	124	72.9%
Discharging planning conditions	338	335	3	99.1%
Protected tree works (TPO)	258	228	30	88.4%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	227	192	35	84.6%
Tree works in a conservation area	175	173	2	98.9%
Changing a planning condition (S73)	122	110	12	90.2%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a)	111	101	10	91.0%
Listed Building Consent	60	58	2	96.7%
Change of Use	53	39	14	73.6%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	40	33	7	82.5%
Advertisement Consent	36	34	2	94.4%
Agricultural Consent	35	27	8	77.1%
Full Planning (Major)	32	28	4	87.5%
Environmental impact screening and scoping	29	29	0	no refusals recorded
West Midlands Interchange	27	27	0	no refusals recorded
Outline Planning	22	7	15	31.8%
Pr Appr - Agricultural to Residential	21	7	14	33.3%
Other*	108	92	16	mixed types

Environmental impact screening and scoping: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

West Midlands Interchange: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Pr Appr - Others (14), Non Material Amendment Application (10), Discharge of condition 2 (8), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (7), Demolition (7), Permission in Principle (7), Phone masts and telecoms (6), Discharge of Condition 3 (5), Pr Appr Offices to Residential (4), Overhead Electricity Lines - S37 (3), Pr Appr - Agricultural to Flexible Use (3), Non Material Amendment Application 2 (3), Hedgerow Removal (3), Discharge of Condition 4 (2), Pr Appr - To School or Nursery (2), Overhead Electricity Lines (2), Building Upwards Householder Extensions (2), Screening Opinions (2), Telecommunications consent (2), Hazardous Substances Consent (1), Conservation Area Consent (1), Public Service Infrastructure Developmen (1), Major Change of Use Application (1), Discharge of Condition 16 (1), Variation of Section 106 Agreement (1), Discharge of Condition 19 (1), Discharge of Condition 5 (1), Discharge of Condition 14 (1), Discharge of Condition 23 (1), Discharge of Condition 7 (1), Non Material Amendment Application 3 (1), Discharge of Condition 20 (1), M6 / M54 Link Road (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	95	86	90.5%
Q4 2023	252	208	82.5%
Q1 2024	241	203	84.2%
Q2 2024	264	232	87.9%
Q3 2024	261	236	90.4%
Q4 2024	268	237	88.4%
Q1 2025	285	256	89.8%
Q2 2025	272	245	90.1%
Q3 2025	249	230	92.4%
Q4 2025	254	209	82.3%
Q1 2026	290	240	82.8%
Q2 2026	49	39	79.6%
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress)	12	9	sample too small

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 248 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 73.5% in Essington to 94.1% in Bilbrook, a gap of 20.6 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Brewood, Coven & Blymhill	420	363	57	86.4%
Kinver & Enville	372	337	35	90.6%
Pattingham, Trysull, Bobb & L Penn	342	288	54	84.2%
Codsall	284	254	30	89.4%
Penkridge North & Acton Trussell	231	205	26	88.7%
Wombourne North	183	162	21	88.5%
Penkridge South & Gailey	140	119	21	85.0%
Featherstone, Shareshill & Saredon	130	112	18	86.2%
Himley & Swindon	102	86	16	84.3%
Bilbrook	102	96	6	94.1%
Essington	98	72	26	73.5%
Lapley, Stretton & Wheaton Aston	92	80	12	87.0%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in South Staffordshire?

In the last 12 months, 86.5% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in South Staffordshire, based on 251 decided applications. Across all application types, 87.6% of 3,287 applications decided since January 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in South Staffordshire?

The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in South Staffordshire in the last 12 months was 64 days (about nine weeks). Times vary case by case.

Do I need planning permission in South Staffordshire?

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 Staffordshire?

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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