Blackpool refuses 1 in 6 planning applications, well above the national rate.
Blackpool Council received 514 planning applications in 2025. Of the 861 applications decided across 2024 and 2025, 718 were approved and 143 refused. That puts the approval rate at 83.4%, against a national rate of 87.6%, and the refusal rate at 16.6%, about 1 in 6, against a national 12.4%. Home extensions are the top project type at 28.2% of applications, broadly in line with the national share of 29.1%. No single category stands dramatically above the national norm; the defining feature of Blackpool's planning record is that the council simply says no more often than most.
The year in one line
Blackpool Council refused 16.6% of decided applications in 2024-2025, a refusal rate about a third higher than the national 12.4%, meaning permission here is harder to win than in most of England and Wales.
What Blackpool Is Building
Extensions lead the mix; demolition is the notable second.
Home extensions were the most common application type submitted to Blackpool Council in 2025, at 28.2% of all applications, in line with the national share of 29.1%. Demolition was the second biggest category at 10.7%, a little above the national 9.1%. Dormers came third at 4.9%. The picture across the Blackpool area is broadly similar to the national mix, with no single category running dramatically above or below the norm.
Applications submitted to Blackpool Council in 2025 (counts are pooled 2024-2025 totals for stability), by project type.
The refusal effect
Blackpool Council refused 16.6% of decided applications across 2024-2025, against a national refusal rate of 12.4%. About 1 in 6 applications is turned down, compared with about 1 in 8 nationally.
The council verdict
A harder council to convince.
The council approved 83.4% of the applications it decided and refused 16.6%, a refusal rate notably above the national average of 12.4%, or about 1 in 6. The approval rate of 83.4% compares with a national figure of 87.6%. For applicants, the data points to a local authority that scrutinises submissions more carefully than most.
About 1 in 6 Blackpool applications was turned down.
applications refused, a 16.6% refusal rate against a national 12.4%. The approval rate of 83.4% sits 4 points below the national 87.6%.
Blackpool vs The National Norm
A tougher council, by the numbers.
Set Blackpool's figures against the national average and the refusal rate is the clearest gap. The council refuses 16.6% of decided applications, against 12.4% nationally. The application mix is broadly in line with the rest of England and Wales: demolition runs a little above the national share at 10.7% versus 9.1%, while dormers and extensions track close to the norm. The categories notably below national share are change of use to residential, garage conversions, listed-building works, and loft conversions.
Blackpool Council's refusal rate across 2024-2025, against a national 12.4%. About 1 in 6 applications is refused, compared with about 1 in 8 nationally.
Each bar is Blackpool's share of applications submitted to Blackpool Council; the marker is the national share. Shares are 2024-2025 pooled for stability.
Meanwhile, the market
Prices moved alongside the building work.
Permission may be harder to win here, but prices still climbed: the average Blackpool home sold for more in the latest full year than the year before.
Blackpool's planning data tells a straightforward story. The council refuses more applications than the national norm, about 1 in 6 against 1 in 8 nationally, and the approval rate of 83.4% sits 4 points below the England and Wales average. The application mix is otherwise unremarkable. For anyone planning building work in the Blackpool area, the data points to one conclusion: prepare your submission carefully, because the chances of a refusal here are meaningfully higher than in most parts of the country.
Where the numbers come from
Planning Data
Applications submitted to Blackpool Council in 2025, with decisions counted over the pooled 2024-2025 window for stability. Shares are each category as a percentage of all applications in scope.
Decision Rates
Approval rate is approvals as a share of approvals plus refusals. The national benchmarks are computed the same way across all decided applications in England and Wales.
Sales Data
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data for the Blackpool post town, the latest full year's completions, with growth measured against the previous year.
The Real Applications
Open the planning applications behind the numbers.
These are real applications decided by Blackpool Council, from refused extensions and change-of-use bids to an approved HMO certificate. Open any one to see its full record.
93 Lindale Gardens FY4 3PL
A rear outbuilding application, showing the kind of project the council approves when submissions are in order.
See this property's full record56 Adelaide Street FY1 4LA
A lawful use certificate for an existing single-storey rear extension, one of the applications decided by the council.
See this property's full record157 Clifton Drive FY4 1RU
A first-floor side extension turned down, one of the roughly 1 in 6 applications the council refused.
See this property's full record5 Hill Street FY4 1DG
A bid to use the premises as self-contained serviced holiday accommodation was refused by the council.
See this property's full record19 Sandhurst Avenue, Bispham FY2 9AU
A single-storey rear extension, the most common project type submitted to Blackpool Council, was approved.
See this property's full record49 Northgate, Bispham FY2 9LT
A rear extension, two front dormers and a raised ridge to a bungalow were all approved in a single application.
See this property's full recordCurious about a home in Blackpool?
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