Planning Application Process FAQs

How the planning application process actually works — timelines, what can speed it up or slow it down, and what you need before you apply.

• How long does planning permission take?

  Most householder planning applications in England are decided within 8 weeks of being validated. Major developments take 13 weeks, and prior approval for larger rear extensions takes 42 days. In practice, validation delays and council backlogs mean many decisions arrive in 9–12 weeks.

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• Can you speed up planning permission?

  You can't pay to jump the queue for a householder application, but you can avoid the delays that catch most people: submit a complete application that validates first time, respond to the case officer quickly, and check whether your project qualifies for a faster route such as permitted development or prior approval.

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• Can you start building while waiting for planning permission?

  You can physically start, but you build entirely at your own risk. Work done before a decision has no protection: if permission is refused, the council can require you to undo it, and unauthorised work can complicate mortgages, insurance and any future sale. Almost every planning professional advises waiting for the decision.

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• Is it difficult to get planning permission?

  For most home projects, no — close to nine in ten householder applications in England are approved. The difficulty is local: approval rates, design expectations and constraint areas vary sharply between councils, so the same extension can sail through in one borough and be refused in the next.

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• Do I need an architect to apply for planning permission?

  No — there is no legal requirement to use an architect for a planning application. You need accurate, scaled drawings and a correctly completed application, which an architect, architectural technologist, or experienced planning drawing service can all provide. For complex or sensitive sites, professional design input earns its fee.

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