Planning permission in West Berkshire

In the last 12 months, 93.5% of home project applications were approved in West Berkshire (169 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about eight weeks (median 56 days).

Across all application types, 91.1% of 4,242 applications decided since January 2023 were approved. Based on West Berkshire's public planning register. Data last updated: 26 July 2026.

5,198Total applications

4,242Decided

91.1%Approval rate (of decided)

3,865 Approved+377 Refused+207 Withdrawn+348 Pending+401 Outcome not determined=5,198 Total

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By Development Category

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

Category	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Home extensions and alterations (householder)	1,288	1,214	74	94.3%
Discharging planning conditions	651	619	32	95.1%
Full planning applications	500	401	99	80.2%
Protected tree works (TPO)	399	376	23	94.2%
Tree works in a conservation area	391	391	0	no refusals recorded
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	228	171	57	75.0%
Listed Building Consent	204	194	10	95.1%
Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a)	154	128	26	83.1%
Full Planning (Major)	64	52	12	81.2%
Certificate of lawfulness (existing use)	57	44	13	77.2%
Advertisement Consent	46	44	2	95.7%
Prior approval (permitted development)	38	38	0	no refusals recorded
Agricultural Development	32	26	6	81.2%
Phone masts and telecoms	28	25	3	outcome not determined
PA SS House Extn Pt1 ClassA GDPO	20	19	1	95.0%
Other*	142	123	19	mixed types

Tree works in a conservation area: 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.

Phone masts and telecoms: 155 applications where we could not determine the outcome from the data we hold, so no approval rate is shown.

* Other combines smaller categories: Outline Planning (19), Out of District Consultation (19), Electricity Act Application (18), Demolition (12), LA Devt on Own Land for Own Purp's by LA (12), Reserved matters (detail after outline approval) (10), Permitted Development Notification (10), LA Devt for Other Purp's by Others (9), Permission in Principle (6), Mods/Discharge of Obligation - Applic (5), Mods/Discharge of Obligation - Request (4), Local Development Order (4), Minerals and waste (4), Agriculture/Forestry - PA Required (4), Notification under Class R (2), Hedgerow Removal (2), Notification under Overhead Lines (1), Notifications The Electronic Comms Code (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	116	108	93.1%
Q4 2023	322	295	91.6%
Q1 2024	336	310	92.3%
Q2 2024	382	333	87.2%
Q3 2024	411	384	93.4%
Q4 2024	361	327	90.6%
Q1 2025	227	205	90.3%
Q2 2025	427	382	89.5%
Q3 2025	399	364	91.2%
Q4 2025	348	324	93.1%
Q1 2026	136	120	88.2%
Q2 2026	21	21	100.0%
Q3 2026 (quarter in progress)	12	12	sample too small

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 477 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 84.0% in Aldermaston to 95.6% in Newbury Central, a gap of 11.6 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Hungerford & Kintbury	486	437	49	89.9%
Newbury Speen	307	292	15	95.1%
Burghfield & Mortimer	263	239	24	90.9%
Chieveley & Cold Ash	257	236	21	91.8%
Newbury Central	227	217	10	95.6%
Basildon	225	206	19	91.6%
Newbury Wash Common	211	197	14	93.4%
Tilehurst & Purley	206	189	17	91.7%
Downlands	194	175	19	90.2%
Aldermaston	194	163	31	84.0%
Bucklebury	182	166	16	91.2%
Ridgeway	181	165	16	91.2%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in West Berkshire?

In the last 12 months, 93.5% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in West Berkshire, based on 169 decided applications. Across all application types, 91.1% of 4,242 applications decided since January 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in West Berkshire?

The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in West Berkshire in the last 12 months was 56 days (about eight weeks). Times vary case by case.

Do I need planning permission in West Berkshire?

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 West Berkshire?

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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