Planiverse / Authorities / West Lancashire

West Lancashire

In the last 12 months, 79.0% of full planning applications were approved in West Lancashire (315 decided). A typical decision takes about eleven weeks (median 80 days).

Across all application types on record (2023-02-03–2026-07-03): 87.8% of 3,094 decisions approved.

3,842Total applications
2,718Approved
376Refused
183Withdrawn
263Pending
87.8%Approval rate (all types)
Check a property in West Lancashire
Decision Level
1,895Delegated unless Member request to Cttee
715Not Available
420Approval of Details on Condition
395Delegated
82Prior Notification 28 days
79Non Material Amendment 28 days
63Prior Notification 42 days
51Prior Notification 56 days
46Permission in Principle
38Work to Trees TPO
25Work to Trees TCA
14Committee
10Screening Opinion (EIA)
2Scoping Opinion (EIA)
By Development Category
CategoryTotalApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Full Planning Application 1,415 1,179 236
83.3%
Discharge of Conditions 388 388 0
100.0%
Tree Works (TPO) 387 364 23
94.1%
Tree Works (Conservation Area) 236 236 0
100.0%
Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed) 212 212 0
100.0%
Prior Approval (Other) 137 82 55
59.9%
Non-Material Amendment (S96a) 92 75 17
81.5%
Certificate of Lawfulness (Existing) 66 53 13
80.3%
Listed Building Consent 46 46 0
100.0%
Permission in Principle 35 14 21
40.0%
Advertisement Consent 33 33 0
100.0%
Outline Planning 13 7 6
53.8%
County Application 9 7 2
77.8%
Reserved Matters 6 6 0
100.0%
Uncategorised 6 5 1
83.3%
Prior Approval (Class AA — Upward Extension) 4 3 1
75.0%
Non Material Amendment (s96A) 3 2 1
66.7%
Telecommunications 3 3 0
100.0%
Modif or Discharge of S106 obligations 2 2 0
100.0%
Change of Use 1 1 0
100.0%
Quarterly Trend
QuarterDecidedApprovedApproval rate
2023-Q3 238 211
88.7%
2023-Q4 246 218
88.6%
2024-Q1 266 231
86.8%
2024-Q2 218 191
87.6%
2024-Q3 276 242
87.7%
2024-Q4 269 242
90.0%
2025-Q1 189 168
88.9%
2025-Q2 269 243
90.3%
2025-Q3 267 218
81.6%
2025-Q4 242 207
85.5%
2026-Q1 244 205
84.0%
2026-Q2 60 56
93.3%
2026-Q3 4 4
100.0%
By Ward
WardTotalApprovedRefusedApproval rate
Rural North East Ward 417 370 47
88.7%
Burscough Bridge & Rufford Ward 348 294 54
84.5%
Rural West Ward 306 261 45
85.3%
Aughton & Holborn Ward 291 264 27
90.7%
Rural South Ward 241 206 35
85.5%
Tarleton Village Ward 195 160 35
82.1%
Ormskirk East Ward 187 170 17
90.9%
Up Holland Ward 174 156 18
89.7%
Ormskirk West Ward 127 107 20
84.3%
North Meols & Hesketh Bank Ward 123 112 11
91.1%
Burscough Town Ward 95 88 7
92.6%
Skelmersdale North Ward 64 54 10
84.4%
Planning guides

Not sure what you can build without planning permission? See our guides to permitted development rights and Article 4 directions.