Greenwich
Below Average
Performance rating out of 100, based on approval rate, decision speed and appeal outcomes
Greenwich is a London borough planning authority that covers a large area of southeast London with a diverse mix of residential, commercial and riverside communities. The council approves most householder applications and generally processes them at a reasonable pace. One notable characteristic is that a significant proportion of refused applications succeed on appeal, which suggests that initial decisions may sometimes be overly cautious.
Approval Rate
77%
of householder applications approved
Decided Within 8 Weeks
76%
meet the statutory target
Appeal Overturn Rate
38%
of refusals overturned on appeal
What to Expect
When you submit a householder planning application to Greenwich, you can expect a good chance of approval, with 77% of applications being granted permission. The council aims to decide applications within 8 weeks, and they meet this target in about 76% of cases, so you should have a clear answer within a reasonable timeframe in most situations. However, the authority's overall performance score is moderate, so it's worth preparing a thorough application to help your case along.
Local Planning Considerations
Greenwich has several conservation areas where stricter rules apply to alterations and extensions, so check whether your property falls within one of these before designing your scheme. The borough also has areas of green belt and Metropolitan Open Land where development is restricted, and some neighborhoods have Article 4 directions that remove permitted development rights, so always verify what applies to your specific location.
Tips for Homeowners
Take time to understand the local planning policies and any conservation or heritage considerations that apply to your property, as this will help you design something that Greenwich is more likely to support. Submit a clear and detailed application with good quality drawings and a thorough design statement, because this reduces the chance of the council requesting more information and helps them process your application faster. If your application is refused, don't despair, as the data suggests there's a reasonable chance of success on appeal, though you should ideally avoid refusal by getting the application right from the start.
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