Brentwood

East of England·E07000068·Data: 2025 Q1-Q4
42

Below Average

Performance rating out of 100, based on approval rate, decision speed and appeal outcomes

Brentwood is a planning authority in the East of England that handles applications for householders looking to extend or modify their homes. The council approves the vast majority of householder applications, which suggests a generally supportive approach to residential development. However, it is worth noting that the council takes longer than the national target to make decisions on planning matters.

Approval Rate

85%

of householder applications approved

Decided Within 8 Weeks

36%

meet the statutory target

Appeal Overturn Rate

26%

of refusals overturned on appeal

What to Expect

When you submit a householder planning application to Brentwood, you can be fairly confident about your chances of approval, with around 85% of applications being approved. This is a positive sign that the council is generally open to residential projects. However, you should be prepared for a potentially longer wait than you might hope for, as only 36% of applications are decided within the standard 8 week timeframe. Despite this slower pace, the council's high approval rate means your application is statistically likely to succeed if it meets their requirements.

Local Planning Considerations

The East of England region contains areas of significant green belt land, and Brentwood may have areas where this restriction applies to your property, so it is worth checking whether your land falls within green belt before you plan any major development. The authority also contains various conservation areas where there are stricter controls on what changes you can make to your property's appearance and character. It is always sensible to ask the council early on whether any special designations apply to your home.

Tips for Homeowners

Start by having an early conversation with the planning officer at Brentwood before you formally submit your application, as this can help you understand what they are looking for and potentially avoid mistakes. Make sure your application is as complete and well presented as possible from the outset, since any missing information will slow down an already lengthy process. Given that this council takes longer than average to make decisions, try to submit your application well in advance of any deadline you are working towards, and do not expect a quick turnaround.

About the performance rating: The score out of 100 is calculated from three factors: householder application approval rate (up to 40 points), the percentage of decisions made within the 8-week statutory target (up to 30 points), and the appeal overturn rate, where a lower rate means the authority makes sound decisions that hold up on appeal (up to 20 points). A further 10 points are available for data completeness. Source: MHCLG PS2 planning statistics and Planning Inspectorate appeal decisions, 2025 Q1-Q4.

Does your project need planning permission?

Get an instant answer tailored to your address and project type.

Assess My Project