Mid Devon

South West·E07000042·Data: 2025 Q1-Q4
83

Excellent

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

Mid Devon is a planning authority covering a large area in the heart of Devon in the South West of England. The council takes a reasonable approach to planning applications and has a strong track record of approving householder applications. You can generally expect a fair hearing for your project here.

Approval Rate

95%

of householder applications approved

Decided Within 8 Weeks

75%

meet the statutory target

Appeal Overturn Rate

21%

of refusals overturned on appeal

What to Expect

When you submit a planning application to Mid Devon, you have a very good chance of getting approval. Around 95 percent of householder applications are approved, which is well above average and shows the council takes a positive view of homeowner projects. Just over three quarters of applications are decided within the standard 8 week timeframe, so you should have a reasonable idea of when to expect a decision. Even if your application is refused, there is a realistic chance of success on appeal, which happens in about 21 percent of cases.

Local Planning Considerations

Mid Devon includes several conservation areas where stricter rules apply to alterations and extensions, so check whether your property falls within one of these protected areas before you apply. The authority also has areas of green belt land and some villages with particular character designations, which means certain types of development may face more scrutiny. It is always worth doing some initial research on your property's location to understand what controls might affect your plans.

Tips for Homeowners

Take time to understand the local character of your area and try to design your project to fit in well with neighbouring properties, as Mid Devon values keeping the character of communities intact. Get your application right first time by providing clear drawings and a thorough description of what you are proposing, since this authority responds well to applications that are complete and well presented. If you are in any doubt about whether you need planning permission, contact the council's planning team early on as they are generally helpful and can save you time and worry.

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