Developers should consider Cheshire if they prioritise securing planning approvals quickly – as the North West region has the highest rate of planning applications made in time across the UK.
A study by money.co.uk mortgages shows that 86% of applications were approved in a timely fashion across Cheshire West and Chester, while similarly a high proportion were given the green light quickly in Cheshire East (81%).
To count as being on time applications need to be dealt with within 13 weeks for major applications, or 8 weeks for minor or other applications
Planning departments can be slow in approving developments due to issues like staff cuts, but seemingly that’s not a big issue in Cheshire.
Digging deeper into the data, the Merseyside metropolitan borough of Knowsley has the highest planning application approval rate at 97%.
Merseyside also scored highly for having the best renovation opportunities. As well as having a high planning application approval rate, the area also has a low average property price, at just £178,285, making it great value for those looking to renovate.
The areas in England that have the quickest planning approval rate:
| Rank | Local authority | Region | Planning applications made in time |
| 1 | Cheshire West and Chester | North West | 86% |
| 2 | Cheshire East | North West | 81% |
| 3 | Charnwood | East Midlands | 79% |
| 4 | Winchester | South East | 75% |
| 5 | Bury | North West | 69% |
| 6 | Bolton | North West | 69% |
| 7 | Bracknell Forest | South East | 67% |
| 8 | Kirklees | Yorkshire & the Humber | 66% |
| 9 | Wigan | North West | 66% |
| 10 | Swindon | South West | 64% |
The areas in the England that have the highest planning approval rate:
| Rank | Local authority | Region | Planning applications granted |
| 1 | Knowsley | North West | 97% |
| 2 | Stockton-on-Tees | North East | 96% |
| 3 | Havant | South East | 96% |
| 4 | Cotswold | South West | 96% |
| 5 | Winchester | South East | 95% |
| 6 | Solihull | West Midlands | 95% |
| 7 | Broadland | East of England | 95% |
| 8 | County Durham | North East | 95% |
| 9 | South Oxfordshire | South East | 95% |
| 10 | North Hertfordshire | East of England | 95% |
