Enfield has emerged as the area of England where it is most difficult to gain planning permission for a new build or alterations on an existing property.
A study by MoneySuperMarket has revealed the local planning authority had the lowest approval rate for creating new buildings, changing a building’s structure or purpose than any other local council.
Indeed, councillors in the borough, rejected 38% of requests in 2018 which compared to the 1% which were turned down by the council with the highest approval rating in the country.
Indeed, Richmondshire, North Yorkshire, emerged from the analysis as the best planning authority to live if you want to gain approval for a new build or extension project, with 99% of applications approved in 2018.
Approvals, nationally, have been rising steadily since 2006, according to MoneySuperMarket. Three years ago they were at 82% but this had increased to 88% by 2018.
But while the approval rate had increased, the total number of planning requests which had been submitted had fallen by 27%.
What’s more, 5% of those who responded to MoneySuperMarket’s survey said it emerged, after submitting their application, that they did not require permission at all. This meant they lost £206 in fees.
Getting help with the planning permission process
Rachel Wait, consumer affairs spokesperson at MoneySuperMarket, said the figures were likely to prove useful for anyone taking on the exciting challenge of improving their home.
She added: “The good news is there are a range of Government and independent sources to help you understand how things work.
“Despite three quarters of people saying that the planning permission process wasn’t an enjoyable experience, nearly nine in 10 applications were successful last year. Hopefully that means the difficulties faced by applicants are generally paying off.”
MoneySuperMarket also suggested, for those looking to build their own home, there were specialist self-build mortgages available, but it was important to do your research before making a decision.
Top 10 local planning authorities (LPA) with the lowest approval rates (source: MoneySuperMarket)
| Authority | Total number of decisions made | Total number of applications granted | Approval rate |
| 1. Enfield | 513 | 317 | 62% |
| 2. Hillingdon | 588 | 365 | 62% |
| 3. Harrow | 532 | 336 | 63% |
| 4. Greenwich | 508 | 330 | 65% |
| 5. East Hertfordshire | 438 | 295 | 67% |
| 6. Hounslow | 422 | 289 | 68% |
| 7. Brighton and Hove | 560 | 392 | 70% |
| 8. Newham | 318 | 225 | 71% |
| 9. Luton | 237 | 168 | 71% |
| 10. Watford | 205 | 150 | 73% |
Top 10 LPAs with the highest approval rates (source: MoneySuperMarket)
| Authority | Total number of decisions made | Total number of applications granted | Approval rate |
| 1. Richmondshire, North Yorkshire | 125 | 124 | 99% |
| 2. Knowsley, Merseyside | 105 | 103 | 98% |
| 3. City of London | 151 | 148 | 98% |
| 4. Copeland, Cumbria | 127 | 124 | 98% |
| 5. Carlisle | 244 | 238 | 98% |
| 6. Fareham, Portsmouth | 239 | 233 | 97% |
| 7. Erewash, Derbyshire | 157 | 153 | 97% |
| 8. Halton, Cheshire | 103 | 100 | 97% |
| 9. Lincoln | 102 | 99 | 97% |
| 10. Blaby, Leicestershire | 199 | 193 | 97% |
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