Planning permission in Southend-on-Sea

Limited recent decision data is available for Southend-on-Sea, so we don't show a headline approval rate here. The figures below cover all application types on record.

Across all application types, 79.1% of 2,880 applications decided since June 2023 were approved. Based on Southend-on-Sea's public planning register. Data last updated: 23 August 2026.

3,764Total applications
2,880Decided
79.1%Approval rate (of decided)
2,277 Approved+603 Refused+77 Withdrawn+0 Pending+807 Outcome not determined=3,764 Total
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Decision Level
3,407Delegated
7Committee
By Development Category

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

CategoryDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Home extensions and alterations (householder) 962 809 153
84.1%
Full planning applications 605 442 163
73.1%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) 323 257 66
79.6%
Discharging planning conditions 296 279 17
94.3%
General Permitted Dev (Extensions) 113 64 49
56.6%
Material Amendment 112 90 22
80.4%
Protected tree works (TPO) 103 85 18
82.5%
Tree works in a conservation area 88 80 8
90.9%
PriorApp:COU-Comm/Bus/ServiceToDwellings 64 25 39
39.1%
Advertisement Consent 46 41 5
89.1%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use) 40 28 12
70.0%
Listed Building Consent 27 22 5
81.5%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a) 24 0 24 outcome not determined
Borough Council Regulation 4 23 18 5
78.3%
Other* 54 37 17 mixed types

Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a): 25 applications where we could not determine the outcome from the data we hold, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Borough Council Regulation 3 (11), Demolition (7), Phone masts and telecoms (5), PriorApp:EnlargeofDwellingConstructAddSt (4), PriorNot-RoofSolaronNonDomestic (4), Lawful Dev Cert Existing Fast Track (4), Lawful Dev Cert Proposed Fast Track (3), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (2), Outline Planning (2), Enlarge dwelling by Constr of add storey (2), Approval of Details Fast Track (2), Deed of Variation (application S106A(3)) (1), PriorApp:NewDwellingOnDetBuildDwellings (1), PriorApp:NewDwellingsOnDetBlocksFlats (1), Prior Approval Railway (1), London Southend Airport (consultation) (1), Borough Council Regulation 4-Major (1), Outline Application Major (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 91 68
74.7%
Q4 2023 258 184
71.3%
Q1 2024 226 172
76.1%
Q2 2024 242 200
82.6%
Q3 2024 255 204
80.0%
Q4 2024 264 214
81.1%
Q1 2025 240 209
87.1%
Q2 2025 260 203
78.1%
Q3 2025 278 221
79.5%
Q4 2025 283 219
77.4%
Q1 2026 264 214
81.1%
Q2 2026 151 131
86.8%
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress) 5 2 sample too small
By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 354 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 67.9% in Kursaal to 88.0% in Shoeburyness, a gap of 20.1 percentage points.

WardDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Milton 362 287 75
79.3%
Leigh 263 204 59
77.6%
West Leigh 252 212 40
84.1%
Chalkwell 217 172 45
79.3%
Thorpe 195 156 39
80.0%
Prittlewell 175 140 35
80.0%
Eastwood Park 155 118 37
76.1%
Blenheim Park 149 110 39
73.8%
Belfairs 143 114 29
79.7%
Shoeburyness 142 125 17
88.0%
Victoria 140 110 30
78.6%
Kursaal 140 95 45
67.9%
Frequently asked questions
What is the planning approval rate in Southend-on-Sea?
Across all application types, 79.1% of 2,880 applications decided in Southend-on-Sea since June 2023 were approved.
Do I need planning permission in Southend-on-Sea?
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 Southend-on-Sea?
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 Southend-on-Sea are coming soon. Look up an address now to see its constraints, and join the waitlist.