Wigan

North West·E08000010·Data: 2025 Q1-Q4
54

Average

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

Wigan is a planning authority in the North West of England that handles planning applications for this area. The council approves a strong majority of householder applications, showing a generally positive and permissive approach to residential projects. However, it's worth noting that the authority takes longer than average to make decisions on applications.

Approval Rate

87%

of householder applications approved

Decided Within 8 Weeks

51%

meet the statutory target

Appeal Overturn Rate

32%

of refusals overturned on appeal

What to Expect

When you submit a planning application to Wigan, you can be encouraged by the fact that around 87% of householder applications are approved, which is well above the national average. However, you should be prepared for a longer wait than you might hope for, as only about half of applications are decided within the standard 8 week timeframe. This means some applications take considerably longer, so it's worth building extra time into your project planning. The good news is that if your application is refused, there's a reasonable chance of success on appeal, with around one third of appeals being overturned.

Local Planning Considerations

Before you apply, take time to check whether your property falls within a conservation area, as this can affect what changes you're allowed to make and may require different types of permission. The North West region has various areas of green belt and other designations, so it's worth checking your property's planning status early on to avoid wasting time on an application that won't be possible.

Tips for Homeowners

Given that Wigan tends to take longer than average to make decisions, submit your application as early as possible and build in extra time for the decision period in your project schedule. Make sure your application is thorough and complete from the start, since incomplete applications can cause further delays and the authority may ask you to resubmit information. Consider speaking to the planning team informally before you apply, as they can often give you helpful advice about whether your scheme is likely to be acceptable and what information you'll need to provide. If your application is refused, remember that appeals do succeed reasonably often in this area, so it may be worth exploring that option if you believe your proposal is sound.

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