How Long Does Planning Permission Take in London?

Councils in England have 8 weeks to decide most planning applications, and 13 weeks for major developments. In London the reality is often longer: an analysis of more than 21,000 London householder decisions found an average of 9.1 weeks from receipt to decision, with some boroughs averaging under 7 weeks and others 13 weeks or more.

This guide explains how long planning permission takes for each type of application, why timelines differ between London boroughs, what happens at each stage, and what you can do when an application runs late.

How long does planning permission take?

How long planning permission takes depends first on the type of application. These are the statutory periods councils in England work to, set out in government guidance:

Two points matter for planning your project:

The clock starts at validation, not submission

The council first checks your forms, drawings and fee. In London, allow one to three weeks for this before the 8-week period begins.

"On time" often includes agreed extensions

Government figures for January-March 2026 show 90% of "other" applications, which include householder schemes, counted as decided on time, but only 56% within the original 8 weeks. The rest were decided under an agreed Extension of Time (MHCLG statistics).

So how long does it take to get planning permission in practice? For a householder project, a sensible allowance is 8-12 weeks from validation, plus validation time. Minor schemes often take three to four months, and major schemes six months to a year or more.

How long does planning permission take in London council areas?

How long does planning permission take in London council offices? The answer depends on how smoothly your application moves through six stages.

A typical householder application runs in the following steps:

Step 1: Submission (day 0)

You apply through the Planning Portal or the council's own system and pay the fee.

Step 2: Validation (1-3 weeks in London)

The council checks that everything required is included. Missing drawings, certificates or reports send it back to you, and the statutory clock doesn't start until it's valid.

Step 3: Consultation (about 3 weeks)

Neighbours and consultees such as highways or heritage officers have 21 days to comment. A site notice or letters go out.

Step 4: Assessment (weeks 3-7)

The case officer weighs the scheme against local and London Plan policy, visits the site and reviews comments.

Step 5: Amendments (if needed)

The officer may ask for changes. Small tweaks can be agreed quickly; larger ones may trigger re-consultation and an Extension of Time.

Step 6: Decision (week 8 or later)

Most householder schemes are decided by a senior officer under delegated powers. Contentious ones go to a planning committee, which can add weeks depending on the meeting cycle.

In conservation areas, on listed buildings or where neighbours object, expect extra consultation rounds and a higher chance of committee referral. These are the main reasons London applications drift past 8 weeks.

Planning timescales by project type

Realistic allowances combine the statutory periods with recent London decision times and typical validation delays. Treat them as programming guides, not guarantees.

How long does planning permission take for an extension?

A standard householder extension has an 8-week target, and many London decisions land between 8 and 12 weeks. If your extension qualifies as permitted development, you may need no application at all, though a Lawful Development Certificate gives proof that's useful when you sell.

How long does planning permission take for a house?

A new house usually needs a full planning application. The target is 8 weeks for up to nine homes, but new dwellings attract more scrutiny on design, parking, daylight and neighbours, so three to six months is common in London. Pre-application advice before you apply can save time later.

How long does planning permission take for change of use?

Most changes of use need a full application with an 8-week target. For restaurant, café and takeaway conversions, see how long London restaurant planning applications take in practice. Some, such as certain conversions of commercial buildings to homes, can use a prior approval route with a 56-day period instead.

How long does planning permission take to be approved?

For a straightforward application, approval usually comes 8-12 weeks after submission in London, including validation. Complex or contested schemes take longer, and if a legal agreement such as a Section 106 is needed, the decision notice may follow weeks or months after the council resolves to approve.

What happens if planning permission takes longer than 8 weeks?

Nothing happens automatically. Permission isn't granted by default when the deadline passes. You have three options:

Agree an Extension of Time

The council may ask you to agree, in writing, a later decision date. This is common and often sensible if the officer is working towards approval and needs time for amendments. Before agreeing, ask what's outstanding and when the decision will now be made.

Chase the case officer

Ask which issues remain, whether any consultee responses are awaited, whether the application is heading for approval or refusal, and whether it needs to go to committee.

Appeal for non-determination

Once the statutory period, or any agreed extension, has expired without a decision, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. For applications made from 1 April 2026, a non-determination appeal normally must arrive within 6 months of the date the council's decision was due, including for householder applications. Check the current Planning Inspectorate procedure before acting. The council then loses the power to decide the application.

Appeals usually take several months, so they rarely speed things up if the council is close to a positive decision. They make most sense when an application has genuinely stalled.

There's also a backstop under the planning guarantee. For non-major applications submitted on or after 6 December 2023, the council should refund the application fee if it has not made a decision within 16 weeks. For major applications, the backstop is 26 weeks. This does not apply if you agreed a longer period in writing. See the current GOV.UK fee guidance.

Can you speed up planning permission?

You can't make a council work faster, but you can remove most of the reasons applications slow down:

• Check if you need permission at all: Many extensions and loft conversions are permitted development. A prior approval or Lawful Development Certificate can be quicker than a full application, but check for Article 4 directions and conservation area limits first.

• Get validation right first time: Follow your council's local validation checklist, make sure drawings are consistent, and include any reports it requires, such as heritage, tree or flood-risk statements.

• Use pre-application advice: This is for anything unusual or sensitive. It adds time at the start but can prevent refusals and lengthy amendments later.

• Talk to your neighbour: Objections lead to extra assessment and possible committee referral. Addressing concerns early often avoids them.

• Respond quickly: Reply to officer queries and amendment requests within days, not weeks.

• Book surveys early: Ecology surveys can only be done in certain seasons, so leaving them late can delay submission by months.

• Consider a Planning Performance Agreement: This is especially for larger schemes. It sets an agreed timetable and resources with the council, usually for a fee.

An architect or planning consultant who knows your borough can also help, mainly by spotting problems before submission rather than by changing the council's timetable.

Can you build while waiting for planning permission?

Technically you can, but it's entirely at your own risk, and it's rarely worth it. Building work that needs permission is a breach of planning control until permission is granted. If the council refuses, it can issue an enforcement notice requiring you to alter or remove the work, and ignoring an enforcement notice is a criminal offence.

There are some safer things you can do while you wait:

Prepare, don't build. Finalise detailed drawings, get builder quotes, arrange building regulations approval and line up your contractor.

Do work that doesn't need permission, such as internal alterations that don't affect the exterior (unless the building is listed).

Use permitted development rights where they apply, after confirming them, ideally with a Lawful Development Certificate.

If work has already started without permission, you can apply for retrospective planning permission. It's judged on the same policies as any other application, but if it's refused you'll face the cost of undoing the work.

How long does planning permission take in London after approval?

A decision notice isn't always the green light to start. Build these steps into your programme:

For a simple extension with no pre-commencement conditions, you can usually start soon after the decision. For anything bigger, allow two to three months between approval and starting on site.

How long planning permission lasts

Full planning permission in England normally comes with a condition that work must begin within three years of the decision, unless the permission says otherwise. Outline permission usually requires reserved matters to be submitted within three years.

How long does planning permission last if work has started?

Once work has lawfully begun, the permission is implemented and doesn't expire, even if building pauses. "Begun" means a material operation, such as digging foundations, and all pre-commencement conditions must be discharged first, or the start may not count. If you're relying on a start to keep a permission alive, keep dated evidence and ask the council to confirm in writing.

What is the 7 year rule for planning permission?

There is no 7 year rule in English planning law. The phrase usually comes from a mix-up with older enforcement time limits, or with Ireland, where a seven-year limit applies. In England, the relevant rules are the time limits for enforcement action against unauthorised development:

The change came in through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (Planning Portal). Wales still uses the older limits. There's no time limit at all for unauthorised works to listed buildings, and deliberate concealment can extend the period. Unauthorised work that passes the time limit can be confirmed as lawful with a Lawful Development Certificate, but you'll need strong evidence.

Your next step

Plan on 8 weeks as the legal minimum and 9-12 weeks as a realistic London allowance for a householder project, more in the slower boroughs or sensitive locations. Before you apply, look up your council's validation checklist and a few recent decisions on similar projects nearby. Those two checks will tell you more about your likely timeline than any national average.

Borough figures are based on 2025 decisions; planning rules and fees change, so confirm current details with your council or on GOV.UK.

Frequently asked questions

How long does planning permission take London on average?

Across 21,331 London householder decisions in 2025, the average was 9.1 weeks from receipt to decision, and the median was 56 days, exactly on the 8-week target. About one in ten took 13 weeks or more (Urbanist Architecture).

How long for planning permission to be decided?

The legal target is 8 weeks from validation for most applications, 13 weeks for major developments and 16 weeks where an Environmental Impact Assessment is needed. Agreed extensions can push that back.

How long does planning permission take UK-wide?

In England, the 8- and 13-week periods apply. Wales and Northern Ireland also use 8 weeks as the starting point for most applications, while Scotland uses two months for local developments and four months for major ones. Real decision times vary by council everywhere.

Does planning permission take longer in a conservation area?

Often, yes. Heritage consultations, stricter design scrutiny and more neighbour interest add time, and some permitted development rights don't apply. Allow a few extra weeks, and consider pre-application advice.

Important note

This guide is general information, not legal or planning advice. Rules, fees and local validation requirements change. Confirm current requirements with the relevant council, GOV.UK or a qualified planning professional before acting.