almost 600
Listed buildings
9 wks
Typical decision time
Approval rate is the overall planning approval rate for all applications decided by the council, YE Dec 2025, per MHCLG Live Table P124.
Planning in Ealing
Ealing is a London planning authority handling the full range of residential projects: rear and side extensions, loft conversions, basement extensions, outbuildings, prior approval applications, new build infill and change of use. Ealing has 29 designated conservation areas and almost 600 listed buildings, plus multiple Article 4 directions in force that remove permitted development rights in specific streets. Ealing covers a wide spectrum from the Edwardian garden suburbs of West Ealing and Northfields to the industrial heritage of Acton and Southall, with a new Local Plan submitted November 2024 and currently under examination. The council's overall planning approval rate was 85% for year ending December 2025 per MHCLG Live Table P124, reported by the London Borough of Ealing. If your property sits inside a conservation area, behind an Article 4 direction or on a listed building, assume you will need full planning permission rather than permitted development.
Why Ealing refuses planning applications
The commonest reasons London Borough of Ealing officers give when refusing householder planning applications - across extensions, loft conversions, basements, outbuildings and other residential projects - based on published committee reports:
- Harm to the character or appearance of a conservation area
- Overlooking and loss of privacy to neighbouring windows
- Bulk, scale or massing out of character with the terrace
- Loss of private amenity space below the 50% retention threshold
- Conflict with the council's adopted design or heritage policy
Ealing council resources
Authoritative Ealing planning sources you can cross-check:
Last reviewed by Jonathan Blewitt (founder, Mayfair Studio) on 11 April 2026. Approval rate sourced from MHCLG quarterly live tables (YE Dec 2025). Conservation area, Article 4 and listed building counts cross-referenced against planning.data.gov.uk. This page is reviewed quarterly.