Slough

South East·E06000039·Data: 2025 Q1-Q4
42

Below Average

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

Slough is a planning authority in the South East of England that processes a good number of householder planning applications successfully. The council approves around 4 in 5 applications, which is a positive sign for homeowners looking to extend or modify their properties. However, the authority does take longer than average to make decisions on applications.

Approval Rate

82%

of householder applications approved

Decided Within 8 Weeks

39%

meet the statutory target

Appeal Overturn Rate

31%

of refusals overturned on appeal

What to Expect

When you submit a planning application to Slough, you can be fairly confident about your chances of approval, with around 82% of householder applications getting the green light. However, you should prepare yourself for a longer wait than the standard 8 weeks, as only about 39% of applications are decided within this timeframe. This means you may need to be patient, but the strong approval rate suggests that well prepared applications have a good chance of success. If your application is refused, there is a reasonable possibility of success on appeal, with 31% of refused applications overturned at appeal.

Local Planning Considerations

As a homeowner in Slough, you should be aware of any conservation areas in your specific location, as these can restrict what you are allowed to do with your property. The South East region, like many parts of the country, has specific environmental and green space policies that may affect certain types of development. It is worth checking whether your property sits within any designated areas before you start planning your project.

Tips for Homeowners

Make sure your application is as complete and detailed as possible before submission, as this can help speed up the decision making process and reduce the chances of the council asking for additional information. Take time to understand the local planning policies and design guidance that apply to your area, as this will help you create proposals that align with what the council is looking for. Given that decisions can take longer here, try to submit your application well in advance of any deadline you might have, and do not hesitate to contact the planning team for informal advice before you formally apply, as this can help smooth the process.

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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