Derby

East Midlands·E06000015·Data: 2025 Q1-Q4
52

Average

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

Derby City Council handles planning applications across the city and surrounding areas in the East Midlands. The council approves the vast majority of householder applications, showing a generally supportive approach to residential development. However, you should be aware that processing times can be slower than the national standard.

Approval Rate

91%

of householder applications approved

Decided Within 8 Weeks

42%

meet the statutory target

Appeal Overturn Rate

40%

of refusals overturned on appeal

What to Expect

You can be fairly confident about your application being approved, as Derby approves around 91% of householder planning applications. The trade off is that you may need to be patient with the decision making process, as only 42% of applications are decided within the standard 8 week timeframe. Many applications do get decided eventually, and if you're unhappy with a refusal, there's a reasonable chance of success on appeal with around 40% of refused applications overturned.

Local Planning Considerations

Derby has various conservation areas where additional restrictions apply to alterations and extensions, so check whether your property falls within one of these before you apply. The city also has areas of green belt around its edges where development is more tightly controlled, and you should verify your property's designation on the council's planning maps.

Tips for Homeowners

Make sure your application is as complete as possible before you submit it, as any missing information will delay the already longer processing times typical in Derby. Take time to understand whether your property is in a conservation area or has any other special designations, as this will affect what you can do and how strictly your application will be assessed. If your application is refused, don't lose heart as there's a genuinely good chance of overturning it on appeal, so consider this option carefully before accepting a no.

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.

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