Preston refuses just 1 in 16 planning applications. Well below the national norm.
Preston City Council received 1,140 planning applications in 2025. Of the 2,151 applications decided across 2024 and 2025, 93.6% were approved, against a national rate of 87.6%. Only 6.4% were refused, about 1 in 16, where nationally the figure is closer to 1 in 8. Change of use to residential is filed at 2.4 times the national rate, and the town also sees retrospective applications at 1.4 times the national rate. Permission is comparatively easy to get here.
The year in one line
Preston approves 93.6% of decided applications, above the national norm, refuses only 1 in 16, and sees change of use to residential at 2.4 times the national rate.
What Preston Is Building
Extensions lead, with change of use and listed-building works standing out.
Home extensions were the most common application type submitted to Preston in 2025, at 26.0% of the total, a little below the national share of 29.1%. Change of use to residential stands out most clearly: 5.4% of the mix, against 2.2% nationally, 2.4 times the norm. Listed-building works came in at 4.8% against a national 2.4%. HMO conversions ran at 2.6%, more than double the national share of 1.2%. This is the application mix of a city actively adapting its existing building stock.
Applications submitted to Preston City Council in 2025, by project type. Counts based on pooled 2024-2025 data for stability.
The adaptation effect
Preston files change of use to residential at 2.4 times the national rate, HMO conversions at 2.1 times, and listed-building works at 2.0 times. The marks of a city reworking its existing building stock.
The council verdict
A reliable yes, well above the national norm.
The council approved 93.6% of the applications it decided and refused only 6.4%, both significantly better for applicants than the national average. About 1 in 16 Preston applications was turned down, compared to 1 in 8 nationally. Permission is comparatively easy to secure here.
About 1 in 16 Preston applications was turned down.
of applications were refused, against a national rate of 12.4%. Preston's approval rate of 93.6% sits well above the national norm of 87.6%.
Preston vs The National Norm
A city adapting its stock, by the numbers.
Set Preston's application mix against the national average and the adaptation lean is clear. Change of use to residential features in 5.4% of applications here, 2.4 times the national share. Listed-building works run at 2.0 times the norm, and retrospective work at 1.4 times. Home extensions are slightly below the national share at 26.0% against 29.1%. Demolition is above at 11.6% against 9.1%.
Preston files change of use to residential at 2.4 times the national rate, and listed-building works at 2.0 times. The signature of a city adapting and reworking its existing building stock.
Each bar is Preston's share of applications submitted in 2025; the marker is the national share. Change of use to residential is the town's clearest divergence.
Meanwhile, the market
Prices moved alongside the building work.
Permission may be comparatively easy to win here, and prices have kept climbing alongside the adaptation activity.
Preston's planning data tells a clear story. With a 93.6% approval rate and just 1 in 16 applications refused, the council is one of the more permissive in England. What stands out is the mix: change of use to residential at 2.4 times the national rate, HMO conversions at twice the norm, and a significant volume of listed-building work. This is a city that is adapting and repurposing its existing stock rather than simply extending it.
Where the numbers come from
Planning Data
Applications submitted to Preston City Council in 2025. Shares and rates are computed over the pooled 2024-2025 dataset for statistical stability. Categories are classified from each application's published description.
Decision Rates
Approval rate is approvals as a share of approvals plus refusals, computed over the pooled 2024-2025 decided applications. 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 Preston 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 in Preston in the latest full year, from change-of-use and listed-building work to HMO conversions. Open any one to see its full record.
58 Howick Park Avenue, Penwortham PR1 0LS
A garage and conservatory were cleared to make way for new front, side and rear single-storey extensions, the kind of adaptation work Preston files often. The council approved it with conditions.
See this property's full recordHomestead Liverpool Road, Tarleton PR4 6HP
A plan to convert a four-bed home into a small children's care home was turned down, one of the roughly 1 in 16 applications the council refused.
See this property's full record39 Juniper Drive, Cottam PR4 0EE
A change of use from a home to serviced accommodation was granted after the fact, a retrospective filing of the sort Preston sees at 1.4 times the national rate.
See this property's full record2a Monks Drive, Longridge PR3 3FR
A proposed change of use from a dwelling to a small residential children's home was refused.
See this property's full record8 Rockburgh Crescent, Walmer Bridge PR4 5RD
A two-storey side extension with front and rear dormers was approved after an existing car port was removed.
See this property's full record18 Banksfield Avenue, Fulwood PR2 3RN
A two-storey rear extension, the most common project type in Preston, was approved with conditions.
See this property's full recordCurious about a home in Preston?
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