Hertsmere

East of England·E07000098·Data: 2025 Q1-Q4
49

Below Average

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

Hertsmere is a planning authority in the East of England that covers areas including Potters Bar, Radlett, and Shenley. The council is generally supportive of householder applications, with a strong approval rate, though it does take longer than average to process decisions. If your application is refused, you have a reasonable chance of success on appeal.

Approval Rate

94%

of householder applications approved

Decided Within 8 Weeks

49%

meet the statutory target

Appeal Overturn Rate

52%

of refusals overturned on appeal

What to Expect

You can be fairly confident about getting approval for your householder application here, as Hertsmere approves around 94% of these applications. However, you should be prepared for a wait, as only about half of applications are decided within the standard 8 week timeframe. This means you may need to be patient while the council reviews your plans. If your application is refused, it's worth knowing that over half of appeals are overturned, which suggests the initial decision may not always be final.

Local Planning Considerations

Hertsmere contains several conservation areas where stricter rules apply to external changes and alterations, so check whether your property falls within one of these protected areas. The authority also has Green Belt land, which means certain types of development are restricted in these areas to prevent urban sprawl. It's worth checking your property's designation before you start planning any major work.

Tips for Homeowners

Take time to understand whether your property is in a conservation area or Green Belt, as this will significantly affect what you can do and what approvals you might need. Because only around half of applications are decided on time here, submit your application well in advance of any deadline you're working towards, and don't rely on the standard 8 week timeframe. Make sure your application is as clear and complete as possible when you submit it, since a thorough submission from the start can help avoid delays and requests for extra information. If you do face a refusal, remember that the appeal odds are in your favour, so don't assume that a no is necessarily the final answer.

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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