Planiverse / Authorities / St. Helens

Planning permission in St. Helens

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

Across all application types, 93.8% of 1,558 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on St. Helens's public planning register. Data last updated: 27 May 2026.

3,015Total applications
1,558Decided
93.8%Approval rate (of decided)
1,462 Approved+96 Refused+66 Withdrawn+1,014 Pending+377 Outcome not determined=3,015 Total
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Decision Level
1,590Delegated
40Committee
By Development Category

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

CategoryDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Home extensions and alterations (householder) 543 525 18
96.7%
Full planning applications 247 219 28
88.7%
Discharging planning conditions 234 234 0 no refusals recorded
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) 126 111 15
88.1%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a) 107 103 4
96.3%
Protected tree works (TPO) 84 74 10
88.1%
Advertisement Consent 50 44 6
88.0%
Prior approval (permitted development) 49 47 2
95.9%
Tree works in a conservation area 25 25 0 no refusals recorded
Changing a planning condition (S73) 20 19 1
95.0%
Other* 73 61 12 mixed types

Discharging planning conditions: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

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: Listed Building Consent (11), Certificate of lawfulness (existing use) (10), Solar Pannels on Non-Resi Prior (10), Outline Planning (6), Phone masts and telecoms (6), Section 73 - Removal/Variation of Condit (5), Demolition Prior Approval (3), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (3), Barn to home conversion (prior approval, Class Q) (3), Larger extensions (householder prior approval) (3), Permission In Principle (3), Environmental impact screening and scoping (2), Shop to Dwelling Prior Approval (2), Agriculture Prior Approval (2), Sui Generis to Dwelling Prior Approval (1), Office to Dwelling Prior Approval (1), Adding storeys (prior approval, Class AA) (1), Hedgerow Removal (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 59 50
84.7%
Q4 2023 197 182
92.4%
Q1 2024 149 135
90.6%
Q2 2024 201 188
93.5%
Q3 2024 173 163
94.2%
Q4 2024 110 104
94.5%
Q1 2025 64 62
96.9%
Q2 2025 71 68
95.8%
Q3 2025 41 37
90.2%
Q4 2025 102 97
95.1%
Q1 2026 201 196
97.5%
Q2 2026 127 120
94.5%
By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 142 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 90.9% in Town Centre Ward to 97.1% in Newton East Ward, a gap of 6.2 percentage points.

WardDecidedApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Town Centre Ward 165 150 15
90.9%
Eccleston Ward 148 138 10
93.2%
Rainford Ward 146 135 11
92.5%
Rainhill Ward 146 134 12
91.8%
Newton East Ward 137 133 4
97.1%
Bold And Lea Green Ward 116 109 7
94.0%
Windle Ward 104 99 5
95.2%
Billinge And Seneley Green Ward 87 81 6
93.1%
Newton West Ward 85 81 4
95.3%
Haydock Ward 82 79 3
96.3%
Moss Bank Ward 64 62 2
96.9%
Sutton North West Ward 56 54 2
96.4%
Frequently asked questions
What is the planning approval rate in St. Helens?
Across all application types, 93.8% of 1,558 applications decided in St. Helens since January 2023 were approved.
Do I need planning permission in St. Helens?
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 St. Helens?
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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