South Downs National Park planning appeals
South Downs National Park sits close to the England average. Inspectors allowed 32% of the planning appeals decided against it, against 31% nationally.
That ranks South Downs National Park 86 of 195 English councils with at least 20 appeals decided, counting from the most often overturned.
What this means if you are objecting
Roughly one appeal in three succeeds here, as across England. A refusal is not the end of the matter, so an objection grounded in the adopted local plan is worth more than one that is not, because the same policies are what an inspector would weigh.
Householder appeals
18 householder appeals were decided against South Downs National Park, with 50% allowed. These are extensions, loft conversions and the like, and they are decided under a faster procedure than a full planning appeal.
Against the rest of South East
Across South East, inspectors allowed 31% of planning appeals on average. South Downs National Park is a national park.
Other councils in South East
- Tonbridge and Malling55% (12/22)
- Portsmouth52% (12/23)
- Tandridge52% (24/46)
- Dartford50% (13/26)
- Maidstone47% (33/70)
- Hart44% (11/25)
- Cherwell44% (18/41)
- Mid Sussex43% (16/37)
Objecting to an application in South Downs National Park?
Enter the planning reference and we will check the designations on the site, the adopted local plan and the applicant's own documents, then tell you which grounds you actually have. That part is free.
Check my grounds, freeFigures cover April 2025 to March 2026 and come from the Planning Inspectorate, Decisions by LPA and decision maker, published under the Open Government Licence. Section 78 planning appeals only. “Allowed” means the inspector granted permission the council had refused. Source data.