Methodology
Where the data comes from
Every figure on this site is computed from planning applications published on each London borough's statutory planning register. We collect applications and decisions continuously, normalise them into a single structure, and compute a monthly statistics snapshot. Each page shows the snapshot period and the date it was computed.
Metric definitions
- Approval rate — approvals as a share of decided applications (approved + refused; withdrawals are excluded from the denominator) over the trailing 12 months.
- Decision speed — the median calendar days from a valid application to a decision, per application tier. The statutory targets are 56 days for householder and minor applications and 91 days for majors.
- Householder applications — extensions, loft conversions, outbuildings and similar applications by homeowners, as classified by the deciding borough.
- Major schemes — applications classified as major development (10+ dwellings or equivalent floorspace thresholds).
- Live caseload — applications received in the last 24 months that have no published decision.
What we refuse to publish
A ranking is only honest if its denominator can support it. Any metric computed from fewer than 20 decisions in the window is shown as “insufficient data” and excluded from rankings rather than published. Boroughs whose data we cannot yet capture completely are excluded from league tables entirely rather than ranked on partial numbers.
Caveats
- Boroughs occasionally backfill or amend decisions; a snapshot reflects the register as captured at computation time.
- Classification (householder / minor / major) follows each borough's own published categorisation.
- Statistics are indicative and no substitute for pre-application advice. Always verify with the borough.