With 38% of applications rejected, the London borough of Hillingdon is the most challenging area in the UK for obtaining planning permission according to research by Trade Fix Direct.

Trade Fix Direct analysed Government data on planning applications from 2000 to 2024 to determine where planning permissions are most and least likely to be granted.

London boroughs dominate the list of areas with the highest refusal rates, occupying all top 10 positions and 18 of the top 20. Hillingdon is the most difficult, with only 62% of planning requests approved from 2000 to 2024. Enfield and Newham follow closely, with approval rates of less than 63%.

In contrast, the City of London has the highest approval rate, with nearly 98% of planning requests granted during the same period. Cumberland follows with a 96% approval rate, and County Durham ranks third with 95%.

Newham has seen a significant improvement, with planning approvals rising from 39% in 2000 to 77% in 2024, marking a 38% increase—the largest in the country. Blackburn with Darwen and Ealing also saw substantial increases in approvals, with 32% and 25% respectively.

Conversely, Barking and Dagenham experienced a 33% decrease in approvals, dropping from 91% in 2000 to 58% in 2024, making it the most difficult area for planning permissions. Gloucester and Rossendale also saw significant declines, with decreases of 26% and 23% respectively.

Paul Kershaw at Trade Fix Direct advises: “If you’re looking to start a renovation or construction project, it’s important to find out whether you will require planning permission and to request this, where applicable.

“To give yourself the best chance of success, it’s always good to be in the know about acceptance rates and to follow best practices when making an application.”

He adds: “If you don’t apply for planning permission, and your project requires it, you can be served an ‘enforcement notice’, which effectively instructs you to reverse all the changes that you have made.

“If you fail to comply with the enforcement notice, and have no outstanding appeal once the period for compliance has passed, you could face up to an unlimited fine.”