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 in the East Midlands, encompassing towns and rural communities. The authority has a fairly positive approach to householder applications, approving the vast majority of proposals. One notable point is that whilst approval rates are high, the authority takes a bit longer than average to make decisions on applications.

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

If you submit a householder planning application to Newark and Sherwood, you have a very good chance of approval, with 95% of applications being granted. However, you should be prepared for the process to take a little longer than the standard 8 weeks, as only about half of applications are decided within this timeframe. This isn't unusual for a busy authority, and your application will still move through the system methodically. The good news is that if your application is refused, there's a reasonable chance of success if you appeal, with about a third of appeals overturning the original decision.

Local Planning Considerations

Newark and Sherwood includes areas with conservation designations and green belt land, so if your property is in one of these locations, you may need to pay special attention to how your proposal fits with local character and policies. It's worth checking whether your property falls within a conservation area or green belt before you start planning your project, as this will shape what you can and cannot do.

Tips for Homeowners

Start by getting clear information about any designations affecting your property, such as conservation area status or green belt classification, as these will influence what's acceptable. Because decisions here take a bit longer than the standard timeframe, build extra time into your plans and don't rush the application process; taking time to get it right the first time is better than having to resubmit. Finally, given the authority's reasonable appeal overturn rate, make sure your application documents explain your proposals clearly and thoroughly, as good communication with the planning officer can help avoid refusal altogether.

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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