Limited recent decision data is available for Tower Hamlets, so we don't show a headline approval rate here. The figures below cover all application types on record.
Across all application types, 87.7% of 4,594 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on Tower Hamlets's public planning register. Data last updated: 21 June 2026.
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All applications on record, not only the last 12 months.
| Category | Decided | Approved | Refused | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full planning applications | 1,431 | 1,116 | 315 | |
| Discharging planning conditions | 1,059 | 1,034 | 25 | |
| Listed Building Consent | 352 | 308 | 44 | |
| Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a) | 314 | 301 | 13 | |
| Tree works in a conservation area | 305 | 303 | 2 | |
| Observations to Other Authorities | 296 | 275 | 21 | |
| Advertisement Consent | 220 | 180 | 40 | |
| Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development) | 165 | 138 | 27 | |
| Cert. of Law. Existing Dev. (TCPA S191) | 127 | 103 | 24 | |
| London Legacy Development Corporation | 96 | 95 | 1 | |
| Changing a planning condition (S73) | 53 | 43 | 10 | |
| Protected tree works (TPO) | 52 | 48 | 4 | |
| Class E to resi | 32 | 13 | 19 | |
| Larger extensions (householder prior approval) | 28 | 24 | 4 | |
| Other* | 64 | 50 | 14 | mixed types |
* Other combines smaller categories: Prior approval (permitted development) (10), Vary / Remove S106 (SI:1992 No.2832) (10), Environmental impact screening and scoping (9), Construction of Additional Storeys (7), Demolition (5), Thames Tideway Tunnel DOR (5), Phone masts and telecoms (4), Outline Planning (3), Cert of Law for prop wrks to Listed Buil (3), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (2), Consultation rec'd from neighbouring LA (2), Temporary Flexible Uses (1), Flats on detached block of flats (1).
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 | 147 | 126 | |
| Q4 2023 | 401 | 347 | |
| Q1 2024 | 351 | 306 | |
| Q2 2024 | 385 | 349 | |
| Q3 2024 | 328 | 284 | |
| Q4 2024 | 360 | 310 | |
| Q1 2025 | 353 | 302 | |
| Q2 2025 | 400 | 347 | |
| Q3 2025 | 412 | 363 | |
| Q4 2025 | 429 | 369 | |
| Q1 2026 | 368 | 339 | |
| Q2 2026 | 37 | 33 |
The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 457 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.
Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 84.3% in Whitechapel to 94.8% in St Katharines and Wapping, a gap of 10.5 percentage points.
| Ward | Decided | Approved | Refused | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bow West | 438 | 393 | 45 | |
| Bow East | 389 | 346 | 43 | |
| Whitechapel | 363 | 306 | 57 | |
| Canary Wharf | 326 | 300 | 26 | |
| Spitalfields and Banglatown | 321 | 271 | 50 | |
| Bethnal Green East | 319 | 291 | 28 | |
| Blackwall and Cubitt Town | 252 | 226 | 26 | |
| St Katharines and Wapping | 249 | 236 | 13 | |
| Not Available | 240 | 226 | 14 | |
| Weavers | 236 | 199 | 37 | |
| Bethnal Green West | 219 | 188 | 31 | |
| Lansbury | 197 | 175 | 22 |
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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