Surrey Heath

South East·E07000214·Data: 2025 Q1-Q4

Good

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

Surrey Heath is a planning authority covering parts of Surrey in the South East of England. The council takes a fairly approving approach to householder planning applications, with a good track record of supporting homeowners' projects. One thing worth knowing is that the authority does take a little longer than average to make decisions on applications.

Approval Rate

88%

of householder applications approved

Decided Within 8 Weeks

67%

meet the statutory target

Appeal Overturn Rate

23%

of refusals overturned on appeal

What to Expect

When you submit a planning application to Surrey Heath, you can be fairly confident about your chances. Around 88% of householder applications are approved, which is a solid approval rate that should give you encouragement. However, you should be prepared for a slightly longer wait than the standard 8-week target, as only about 67% of applications are decided within that timeframe. This means some applications may take a bit longer, so it's worth building extra time into your plans.

Local Planning Considerations

Surrey Heath has areas of real planning sensitivity that you need to be aware of before applying. The region includes significant stretches of Green Belt land and conservation areas, both of which can restrict what you're able to do with your property. If your home is in one of these protected areas, your options may be more limited, so it's worth checking your property's designation early in the process.

Tips for Homeowners

Start by getting absolute clarity on whether your property sits within a conservation area or the Green Belt, as this will shape what's possible for your project. Because decisions can take longer than 8 weeks, submit your application with realistic expectations about timing and avoid building in tight deadlines. Make sure your application is as thorough and complete as possible from the start, as this will help the planning officer process it more smoothly and can help avoid delays caused by requests for additional information.

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