Planiverse / Authorities / Southwark

Planning permission in Southwark

In the last 12 months, 90.3% of full planning applications were approved in Southwark (31 decided).

Across all application types, 93.0% of 5,577 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on Southwark's public planning register. Data last updated: 2 August 2026.

7,012Total applications
5,577Decided
93.0%Approval rate (of decided)
5,184 Approved+393 Refused+359 Withdrawn+257 Pending+819 Outcome not determined=7,012 Total
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By Development Category

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

CategoryDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Discharging planning conditions 1,621 1,549 72
95.6%
Full planning applications 984 872 112
88.6%
Home extensions and alterations (householder) 951 887 64
93.3%
Tree works in a conservation area 481 481 0 no refusals recorded
Protected tree works (TPO) 407 386 21
94.8%
Listed Building Consent 270 240 30
88.9%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) 268 251 17
93.7%
Advertisement Consent 197 178 19
90.4%
S.73 Vary/Remove Conds/Minor Alterations 148 131 17
88.5%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use) 86 74 12
86.0%
Change of Use 55 44 11
80.0%
Large Home Extensions 34 30 4
88.2%
Prior approval (permitted development) 32 26 6
81.2%
Other* 43 35 8 mixed types

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

* Other combines smaller categories: Local Authority Development by Others (19), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (8), Phone masts and telecoms (5), Local Authority Development (4), Outline Planning (3), Office to Residential (2), Retail/sui generis to residential (1), Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a) (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 224 210
93.8%
Q4 2023 598 563
94.1%
Q1 2024 545 500
91.7%
Q2 2024 711 655
92.1%
Q3 2024 631 593
94.0%
Q4 2024 685 644
94.0%
Q1 2025 577 538
93.2%
Q2 2025 216 198
91.7%
Q3 2025 68 63
92.6%
Q4 2025 61 57
93.4%
Q1 2026 36 36
100.0%
Q2 2026 3 3 sample too small
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress) 1 1 sample too small
By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 591 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 86.4% in Rye Lane to 99.5% in North Bermondsey, a gap of 13.1 percentage points.

WardDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Dulwich Village 659 632 27
95.9%
Borough & Bankside 450 417 33
92.7%
Goose Green 357 327 30
91.6%
Dulwich Wood 348 331 17
95.1%
Rye Lane 339 293 46
86.4%
London Bridge & West Bermondsey 326 295 31
90.5%
Old Kent Road 322 308 14
95.7%
St Giles 278 252 26
90.6%
Dulwich Hill 226 204 22
90.3%
North Walworth 220 203 17
92.3%
North Bermondsey 209 208 1
99.5%
Nunhead & Queens Road 205 191 14
93.2%
Frequently asked questions
What is the planning approval rate in Southwark?
Across all application types, 93.0% of 5,577 applications decided in Southwark since January 2023 were approved.
Do I need planning permission in Southwark?
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 Southwark?
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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