County Durham
Good
Performance rating out of 100, based on approval rate, decision speed and appeal outcomes
County Durham is a planning authority in the North East that covers a large and varied area with both urban and rural communities. The authority has a strong track record of approving householder applications, making it a relatively straightforward place to get planning permission for home improvements. Overall, it performs well compared to national standards, though there is room for improvement in decision speed.
Approval Rate
97%
of householder applications approved
Decided Within 8 Weeks
59%
meet the statutory target
Appeal Overturn Rate
21%
of refusals overturned on appeal
What to Expect
You can feel confident about your chances of approval here, as County Durham approves 97 out of every 100 householder planning applications. However, you should be prepared for some waiting time, as only about 59 percent of applications are decided within the standard 8 week target. Most applications will eventually get a decision, and if yours is refused, there is a reasonable chance of success on appeal, with 21 percent of appeals overturned. It's worth building in extra time to your plans rather than relying on the quickest possible timescale.
Local Planning Considerations
County Durham has areas of significant environmental value and some parts of the authority are subject to Green Belt restrictions, so it's important to check whether your property falls within these designations before applying. The authority also has several conservation areas where additional rules apply to extensions and alterations, particularly around the character and appearance of properties and their surroundings. Getting this right from the start will smooth your application process considerably.
Tips for Homeowners
Start by contacting the planning authority's pre application advice service, which can help you understand whether your project needs permission and what the local considerations might be for your specific property. Make sure your application is as clear and detailed as possible, with good quality drawings and a thorough description of what you're proposing, since this helps officers process your application more quickly. Finally, allow yourself plenty of time before you need your permission to come through, as the 8 week target is not always met, and factor in the possibility that you might need to make changes or provide additional information during the assessment.
Does your project need planning permission?
Get an instant answer tailored to your address and project type.
Assess My Project