Thanet

South East·E07000114·Data: 2025 Q1-Q4

Average

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

Thanet is a planning authority in the South East of England that takes a generally positive approach to householder applications. With a strong approval rate of 93%, this is an authority that tends to support homeowners looking to improve their properties. However, like many councils, it does face some challenges in meeting decision timescales.

Approval Rate

93%

of householder applications approved

Decided Within 8 Weeks

62%

meet the statutory target

Appeal Overturn Rate

40%

of refusals overturned on appeal

What to Expect

You can be quite confident about your prospects here, as Thanet approves around 93 out of every 100 householder planning applications. The council does work to reach decisions within the standard 8 week timeframe, though currently around 62% of applications meet this target, so you may occasionally need to wait a little longer than hoped. If your application is refused, there is a reasonable chance of success on appeal, which happens in about 40% of cases.

Local Planning Considerations

Thanet is home to a number of conservation areas where additional restrictions apply to changes you can make to your property, particularly around external alterations and extensions. You should check whether your property falls within a conservation area before you apply, as this may affect what you can do. The coastal location and character of the area also means the council pays close attention to how new work fits with local architectural styles.

Tips for Homeowners

Start by checking if your property is in a conservation area, as this is a common consideration in Thanet and will shape what the council expects from your application. Make sure your application forms and drawings are clear and detailed, as good quality submissions help the council make decisions more quickly and thoroughly. If there is any chance your application might be refused, it is worth knowing that appeals have a reasonable success rate here, so do not assume a refusal is the final word.

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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