Planning applications in Lichfield

Planning in Lichfield

Lichfield has recently become stricter. In 2025 about 1 in 5 decided applications was refused (161 of 876), against about 1 in 9 in the three years before. That matters, because over the longer run the council has refused less often than the areas we cover, so past approvals may flatter your odds today.

Since 2016 the council has handled more than 12,000 applications, and about 1 in 9 was refused, compared with about 1 in 7 across the areas we cover. Rear extensions are the largest group, with more than 3,000 applications, and are refused about 1 in 15 times. Side extensions are about 1 in 12, front extensions and porches about 1 in 13 and windows and doors about 1 in 19. Garden rooms and outbuildings, with more than 2,200 applications, are refused about 1 in 8 times, and loft conversions and dormers about 1 in 8 (against about 1 in 5 nationally); both are above the council’s own average. Driveways and dropped kerbs are about 1 in 7, and solar panels are also about 1 in 7, which for solar is more often than the national rate of about 1 in 9.

The reasons for refusal are varied. Of the 406 refusals we read, about two thirds mentioned size, bulk or design. About a third mentioned the look of the street or area, and about three in ten raised heritage, highways or a lack of information. Neighbours’ light and privacy came up in about a fifth, as did trees and building outside towns and villages. Green belt featured in about 15%. Lichfield has 21 conservation areas, 764 listed buildings and 42 Article 4 directions.

For householder applications the median was about 8 weeks, and 75% were decided within 8 weeks over 2023 to 2025.

Compared with neighbours, Lichfield refuses less often than Birmingham (about 1 in 7), about as often as Cannock Chase (about 1 in 10) and East Staffordshire (about 1 in 9), and more often than North West Leicestershire (about 1 in 14). Applications dipped to 876 in 2025 from an average of about 976 a year earlier. The busiest year on record was 2021 with 1,538.

Figures in this section as of 9 October 2026.