Planning applications in Sutton

Planning in Sutton

Sutton decides most householder applications within eight weeks. The median householder application took 7.4 weeks, and 91% were decided within 8 weeks, across 2,194 decisions between 2023 and 2025.

On outcomes, of nearly 18,000 planning applications since 2019, about 1 in 5 of those decided was refused, against about 1 in 7 across the areas we cover. Among its neighbours, it refuses at about the same rate as Croydon and Kingston (each about 1 in 5) and more often than Merton (about 1 in 7).

Rear extensions lead with more than 9,000 applications and are refused about 1 in 5 times, more often than the national rate. Front extensions and porches are the same, and garden rooms and outbuildings and solar panels too. Side extensions are tougher at about 1 in 4, and fences, walls and gates also about 1 in 4. Driveways and dropped kerbs are the hardest at about 1 in 3. Loft conversions and dormers, at about 1 in 5, match the national rate, and windows and doors are about 1 in 6.

When Sutton refuses, the reason is usually the design. Of 2,045 refusals read, about half raised the size, bulk or design of the work. Highways, meaning parking, access or road safety, came up in about one in eight, neighbours’ light, privacy or outlook in just over one in ten, and the look of the street or area in about one in fourteen. Heritage, trees and flooding each featured in only a few.

Sutton has 15 conservation areas, 206 listed buildings and 1 Article 4 direction.

Both applications and refusals have fallen. In 2025 the council received 1,854 applications, well below the average of 2,302 a year in the three years before, and about 1 in 7 was refused, against about 1 in 4. The busiest year on record was 2021, with 2,807 applications.

Figures in this section as of 9 October 2026.