Newark and Sherwood

East Midlands·E07000175·Data: 2025 Q1-Q4
66

Good

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

Newark and Sherwood is a planning authority covering a large area of Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands. The authority takes a generally positive approach to householder applications, with a strong approval rate that suggests they're open to supporting homeowners who submit reasonable proposals. One thing worth knowing is that their decision making speed is a bit slower than the national average, so you should be prepared for applications to take a little longer than you might hope.

Approval Rate

95%

of householder applications approved

Decided Within 8 Weeks

56%

meet the statutory target

Appeal Overturn Rate

33%

of refusals overturned on appeal

What to Expect

When you submit a planning application to Newark and Sherwood, you can be quite confident about your chances. Around 95% of householder applications are approved, which is a genuinely encouraging figure that suggests the authority wants to help rather than obstruct. However, you should be aware that only about 56% of applications are decided within the standard 8 week target, meaning some applications take considerably longer. The good news is that if your application is refused, there's a reasonable chance you could succeed on appeal, so it's not necessarily the end of the road.

Local Planning Considerations

Newark and Sherwood has several conservation areas and historic sites that can affect what you're able to do, so it's worth checking whether your property falls within one of these protected areas before you start planning any work. The authority also has areas of green belt land, and proposals affecting these areas will need to be particularly well justified. You should look into any local designations affecting your property early on, as these can significantly influence what sort of applications will be successful.

Tips for Homeowners

Start by having a good look at the planning history of your property and neighbouring properties to get a feel for what the authority tends to approve in your area. Take time to prepare a clear and detailed application with good quality drawings and photographs, as the authority seems to respond well to applicants who make an obvious effort and think things through properly. Finally, don't be discouraged if your application takes longer than 8 weeks to decide, as delays are fairly common here, and it's worth chasing for updates if you haven't heard anything after a reasonable period of time.

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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