Planning applications in BCP

Planning in BCP

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has had more than 255,000 applications decided since 1970. About 1 in 6 was refused, which is stricter than the 1 in 7 seen across the areas we cover, and stricter than every neighbour we can compare it with: Dorset (about 1 in 7), the New Forest district (about 1 in 10) and the New Forest park (about 1 in 15).

Garden rooms and outbuildings are by far the biggest category, with more than 39,000 applications, and about 1 in 6 was refused, which is more often than nationally but the same as the council overall. Driveways and dropped kerbs are the hardest at about 1 in 4. Fences, walls and gates are about 1 in 6, windows and doors and solar panels about 1 in 8 (a little worse than nationally), and side extensions also about 1 in 8. Rear extensions do better, at about 1 in 11, front extensions and porches about 1 in 9. Loft conversions and dormers, with nearly 15,000 applications, are about 1 in 6, which is better than the 1 in 5 seen nationally.

Refusals in recent years lean heavily on design and neighbours. Of 144 recent refusals we read, about seven in ten mentioned the size, bulk or design of the work, and about six in ten the look of the street or area. About four in ten mentioned parking, access or road safety, and a third each neighbours’ light, privacy or outlook, or not enough information supplied. About one in five mentioned heritage, and the area has 48 conservation areas and 749 listed buildings.

One number needs care. Householder applications in this council took a median of 33.1 weeks to decide between 2023 and 2025, and none was decided within 8 weeks, though that is based on only 154 decisions, so treat it as a sign that some applications can take a long time rather than a firm rule.

The busiest year was 2007 with 6,696 applications. In 2025 there were 4,646, against an average of about 5,400 a year in the three years before, and refusals eased from about 1 in 6 to about 1 in 7.

Figures in this section as of 9 October 2026.