Planning permission in Wealden

In the last 12 months, 85.1% of home project applications were approved in Wealden (47 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about eight weeks (median 59 days).

Across all application types, 88.2% of 8,314 applications decided since May 2022 were approved. Based on Wealden's public planning register. Data last updated: 22 May 2026.

12,293Total applications

8,314Decided

88.2%Approval rate (of decided)

7,332 Approved+982 Refused+641 Withdrawn+369 Pending+2,969 Outcome not determined=12,293 Total

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By Development Category

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

Category	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Full planning applications	3,992	3,425	567	85.8%
Discharging planning conditions	1,569	1,413	156	90.1%
Listed Building Consent	451	378	73	83.8%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	401	401	0	no refusals recorded
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a)	265	212	53	80.0%
Full - Non Compliance of Condition	249	242	7	97.2%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	134	104	30	77.6%
Prior approval (permitted development)	88	88	0	no refusals recorded
Home extensions and alterations (householder)	68	67	1	98.5%
Outline Planning	63	23	40	36.5%
Reserved matters (detail after outline approval)	59	52	7	88.1%
Advertisement Consent	49	46	3	93.9%
Application to Modify/Discharge a Section 106	32	32	0	no refusals recorded
Permission in Principle	31	9	22	29.0%
Tree works in a conservation area	23	23	0	outcome not determined
Agricultural Determination Prior Approval	21	15	6	71.4%
District Council Application	21	21	0	no refusals recorded
Other*	798	781	17	mixed types

Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development): no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

Prior approval (permitted development): no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

Application to Modify/Discharge a Section 106: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

Tree works in a conservation area: 160 applications where we could not determine the outcome from the data we hold, so no approval rate is shown.

District Council Application: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: PD Notification for temporary recreational campsites (15), Biodiversity Gain Plan (14), Demolition (13), PD Change of use Commerical, Business & Service Uses to Dwelling Houses (13), PD for installation, alteration or replacement of Solar Photovoltaics on Non-domestic buildings (10), Phone masts and telecoms (8), Adjoining Authority (7), PD Change of use from Agricultural to Dwellings (6), PD Change of use from Agricultural to Flexible Uses (6), Protected tree works (TPO) (6), Technical Details Application (5), County Council Application (3), Minerals and waste (3), Application for Approval of Details required by Legal Agreement (3), PD Enlargement of a dwellinghouse by construction of additional storeys (3), Major Application with Environmental Assessment (3), Overhead Line (2), Retrospective Illuminated Advertisement (2), Habitat Regulations Application (2), General Tree Application (2), SDNP Tree Consultation (1), PD New dwellinghouses on detached blocks of flats (1), PD Change of use from B1, C1, C2, C2A, D2 to state-funded school or registered nursery (1), Hedgerow Regularisation (1), PD Change of use from A1, A2, A5, Betting Office, Pay Day Loan Shop, Launderette to single Dwelling (1), Outline - Non Compliance of Condition (1), PD Installation etc of a solar canopy on non-domestic, off-street parking (1), PD Change of use from Class E, Betting Office or Pay Day Loan Shop to Mixed Use inc Flats (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	250	217	86.8%
Q4 2023	529	459	86.8%
Q1 2024	583	512	87.8%
Q2 2024	684	591	86.4%
Q3 2024	605	517	85.5%
Q4 2024	600	510	85.0%
Q1 2025	578	508	87.9%
Q2 2025	539	458	85.0%
Q3 2025	89	74	83.1%
Q4 2025	45	34	75.6%
Q1 2026	41	38	92.7%
Q2 2026	162	153	94.4%

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 602 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 78.8% in Arlington to 90.9% in Mayfield & Five Ashes, a gap of 12.1 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Frant & Wadhurst	549	476	73	86.7%
Horam & Punnetts Town	530	457	73	86.2%
Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels	436	375	61	86.0%
Danehill & Fletching	374	332	42	88.8%
Chiddingly, East Hoathly & Waldron	374	334	40	89.3%
Mayfield & Five Ashes	339	308	31	90.9%
Hartfield	323	278	45	86.1%
Framfield & Cross-in-Hand	315	274	41	87.0%
Arlington	306	241	65	78.8%
Withyham	298	264	34	88.6%
Hellingly	292	241	51	82.5%
Hadlow Down & Rotherfield	290	240	50	82.8%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in Wealden?

In the last 12 months, 85.1% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Wealden, based on 47 decided applications. Across all application types, 88.2% of 8,314 applications decided since May 2022 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in Wealden?

The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Wealden in the last 12 months was 59 days (about eight weeks). Times vary case by case.

Do I need planning permission in Wealden?

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 Wealden?

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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