Planning permission in Worthing

In the last 12 months, 90.6% of home project applications were approved in Worthing (181 decided): extensions, loft conversions and similar work. A typical home project decision takes about nine weeks (median 62 days).

Across all application types, 95.0% of 2,436 applications decided since February 2023 were approved. Based on Worthing's public planning register. Data last updated: 8 April 2026.

2,739Total applications

2,436Decided

95.0%Approval rate (of decided)

2,314 Approved+122 Refused+73 Withdrawn+147 Pending+83 Outcome not determined=2,739 Total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)	934	878	56	94.0%
Trees	347	342	5	98.6%
Full planning applications	275	256	19	93.1%
Residential Extension	211	204	7	96.7%
Discharging planning conditions	141	141	0	no refusals recorded
Conservation Area	89	89	0	no refusals recorded
Change of Use	86	76	10	88.4%
Listed Building	64	61	3	95.3%
Non-Material Amendment	40	40	0	no refusals recorded
Demolition	36	30	6	83.3%
Lawful Development	35	34	1	97.1%
Commercial	24	22	2	91.7%
Advertisement Consent	24	23	1	95.8%
Signage	21	19	2	90.5%
Certificate of lawfulness (confirming permitted development)	21	21	0	no refusals recorded
Other*	88	78	10	mixed types

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

Conservation Area: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

Non-Material Amendment: no refusals are recorded in this category for this authority, so no approval rate is shown.

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

* Other combines smaller categories: Changing a planning condition (S73) (17), Conversion to Flats (16), County Council Reg 3 Application (10), Residential New Build (9), Protected tree works (TPO) (7), Prior Approval (7), Enforcement (6), Worthing Reg 3 Application (4), Tree works in a conservation area (3), Minor amendment to an approved scheme (S96a) (3), Certificate of lawfulness (existing use) (2), Outline Planning (2), Listed Building Consent (1), Worthing Reg 4 Application (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	82	75	91.5%
Q4 2023	203	195	96.1%
Q1 2024	206	195	94.7%
Q2 2024	186	174	93.5%
Q3 2024	228	212	93.0%
Q4 2024	213	206	96.7%
Q1 2025	216	210	97.2%
Q2 2025	213	203	95.3%
Q3 2025	230	225	97.8%
Q4 2025	176	161	91.5%
Q1 2026	190	178	93.7%
Q2 2026	4	4	sample too small

By Ward

The 12 wards with the most decided applications, across all years. 79 further decided applications fall in wards not shown.

Among wards with at least 20 decided applications, approval rates range from 92.2% in Selden to 98.1% in Castle, a gap of 5.9 percentage points.

Ward	Decided	Approved	Refused	Approval rate
Central	336	310	26	92.3%
Offington	325	309	16	95.1%
Salvington	252	237	15	94.0%
Goring	224	214	10	95.5%
Heene	200	194	6	97.0%
Marine Worthing	196	186	10	94.9%
Selden	179	165	14	92.2%
Gaisford	162	154	8	95.1%
Tarring	150	145	5	96.7%
Broadwater	136	132	4	97.1%
Castle	105	103	2	98.1%
Durrington	92	90	2	97.8%

Frequently asked questions

What is the planning approval rate in Worthing?

In the last 12 months, 90.6% of home project applications (extensions, loft conversions and similar work) were approved in Worthing, based on 181 decided applications. Across all application types, 95.0% of 2,436 applications decided since February 2023 were approved.

How long does a planning decision take in Worthing?

The median time from submission to decision for home project applications decided in Worthing in the last 12 months was 62 days (about nine weeks). Times vary case by case.

Do I need planning permission in Worthing?

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 Worthing?

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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