How long does planning permission take in the UK?

The official answer is 8 weeks for most applications and 13 weeks for major ones — but the real-world answer, from first drawings to a decision you can build on, is usually longer. Here’s how the timeline actually works in England, and where the delays creep in.

The short answer: 8 or 13 weeks

Once a council formally validates your application, the statutory determination periods are:

• 8 weeks for householder and minor applications (extensions, single dwellings, small developments).
• 13 weeks for major applications (10+ dwellings, larger commercial schemes).
• 16 weeks where an Environmental Impact Assessment is required.

These are targets, not guarantees. Councils miss them regularly, and the clock only starts at validation — not when you hit submit.

The stages of an application

After submission, an application moves through: validation (the council checks the forms, fee and drawings are complete — this alone can take days to a couple of weeks if they’re busy); consultation (neighbours and statutory consultees get 21 days to comment); assessment (the case officer visits, reviews policy and objections); and decision (delegated to an officer for most small schemes, or referred to planning committee for contentious or major ones).

A committee referral adds time, because committees only sit periodically and your application has to wait for the next available date.

The bit before the clock starts

The statutory clock ignores everything that happens first, which is where most of the real time goes:

• Design and drawings — measured survey, concept, drawings: weeks to months depending on the architect’s workload.
• Pre-application advice — optional but wise on bigger schemes; adds several weeks but reduces refusal risk.
• Supporting documents — heritage statements, arboricultural reports, drainage and flood assessments where needed.

Realistically, budget 3–6 months from “I want an extension” to a usable decision for a straightforward householder job, and longer for anything major or contentious.

Why applications take longer

Common causes of overrun: an under-resourced planning department; objections that trigger a committee referral; missing or inadequate documents that pause validation; statutory consultees (highways, lead local flood authority, conservation) being slow; and requests for amendments mid-process. Many applicants agree an extension of time with the council rather than let it be refused on the deadline — so a “decided in 14 weeks” outcome is common even on an 8-week target.

After approval

Approval usually comes with conditions — some to be discharged before work starts (materials, drainage details). There’s also a judicial review window and the standard requirement to begin development within three years. So “approved” doesn’t always mean “start tomorrow,” though for most householder jobs you can move quickly once pre-commencement conditions are cleared.

What it means for contractors

The timeline is a roadmap of when to make contact. While an application is pending, the client is waiting and open to relationships — a good window to introduce yourself for the work to come. The week of approval is when they suddenly need detailed drawings and contractor quotes. And refused applications aren’t dead — they usually mean a redesign and resubmission a few months out.

The honest summary

Statutory targets are 8 weeks (minor) and 13 weeks (major) from validation, but with design, documents and real-world delays, expect 3–6 months end-to-end for a typical project. For contractors, knowing where an application sits in that timeline tells you exactly when to reach out. House of Planning Service tracks every application’s status and decision dates, so you can time your approach to land when the client is ready to act — not too early, not too late.