St. Helens
North West · E08000013 · 189 quarters held (1979 Q2 – 2026 Q2)
Decisions
455
2025 Q3 – 2026 Q2
Refusal rate
6.2%
higher than 15% of authorities
Majors in time
50.0%
threshold 60%
Minors in time
100.0%
threshold 70%
Householder in time
100.0%
no formal threshold
Delegated
96.7%
decisions not to committee
Appellant win rate
26.3%
20 allowed of 76 decided
Decisions overturned
0.7%
quality threshold 10%
Refusal rate trend — last 40 quarters
2016 Q3 → 2026 Q2 · peak 13.2%
Official statistics — is development moving through the system?
MHCLG quarterly planning returns (PS1/PS2), last 4 quarters 2025 Q3 to 2026 Q2, and the government's latest Housing Delivery Test. These are the authority's own statutory returns, not our scrape.
Applications received
466
in the window
Applications decided
455
in the window
Approval rate
93.8%
427 granted, 28 refused · national median refusal 11.6%
Refusal rate rank 5 of 36 metropolitan districts (1 = fewest refusals) · peer median 13.2%
Decided within time
99.3%
rank 18 of 307 reporting authorities · national median 91.4%
Rank 6 of 36 metropolitan districts · peer median 92.1%
Peer ranks compare only metropolitan districts with more than 50 decisions in the window, the same floor as the national rank. A rank among peers is the fairer read: types of authority carry very different caseloads.
Performance by development type
| Type | Decisions | Approved | In time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major | 21 | 85.7% | 50.0% |
| Minor | 102 | 89.2% | 100.0% |
| Other | 332 | 95.8% | — |
| of which householder | 261 | 96.6% | 100.0% |
"In time" = within the statutory period or an agreed extension, excluding prior approvals. "Other" covers everything that is neither major nor minor; householder figures are measured against the 8-week period.
Applications through the system
Last 8 quarters held
▬ received ▬ decided
Housing Delivery Test
HDT 2025 measurement, homes delivered against requirement over 2022/23 to 2024/25
118%
No consequenceDelivery at or above 95%: no HDT consequence.
Where these figures come from. Each dataset below is the publisher's own file, loaded unchanged; rows are matched to this authority by its ONS code (E08000013). Missing values are shown as "—" and are never estimated or filled from another period.
Open Government Licence v3.0. The MHCLG tables are reloaded every Sunday; the loaded date is the last successful run.
| Dataset | Publisher | Covers this authority | Loaded | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planning application decisions (PS2) | MHCLG | 1979 Q2 to 2026 Q2 (189 quarters) | 18 Oct 2026 · 68,583 rows nationally | Live tables |
| Planning application flow (PS1) | MHCLG | 1979 Q2 to 2026 Q2 (189 quarters) | 18 Oct 2026 · 42,861 rows nationally | Live tables |
| Housing Delivery Test 2025 | MHCLG | 2022/23 to 2024/25 | 18 Aug 2026 | Measurement |
Quarterly history
| Quarter | Decisions | Granted | Refused | Refusal % | Majors in time | Minors in time | Received |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Q2 | 109 | 101 | 8 | 7.3% | — | 100.0% | 112 |
| 2026 Q1 | 117 | 113 | 4 | 3.4% | — | 100.0% | 131 |
| 2025 Q4 | 110 | 100 | 10 | 9.1% | 50.0% | 100.0% | 114 |
| 2025 Q3 | 119 | 113 | 6 | 5.0% | — | 100.0% | 109 |
| 2025 Q2 | 153 | 147 | 6 | 3.9% | — | 100.0% | 121 |
| 2025 Q1 | 113 | 105 | 8 | 7.1% | — | 100.0% | 174 |
| 2024 Q4 | 123 | 116 | 7 | 5.7% | — | 91.7% | 116 |
| 2024 Q3 | 102 | 94 | 8 | 7.8% | — | 91.7% | 123 |
| 2024 Q2 | 123 | 115 | 8 | 6.5% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 107 |
| 2024 Q1 | 102 | 91 | 11 | 10.8% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 133 |
| 2023 Q4 | 130 | 119 | 11 | 8.5% | — | 100.0% | 128 |
| 2023 Q3 | 124 | 113 | 11 | 8.9% | — | 100.0% | 123 |
| 2023 Q2 | 154 | 142 | 12 | 7.8% | 0.0% | 100.0% | 131 |
| 2023 Q1 | 121 | 105 | 16 | 13.2% | — | 85.7% | 165 |
| 2022 Q4 | 185 | 172 | 13 | 7.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 140 |
| 2022 Q3 | 150 | 138 | 12 | 8.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 202 |
| 2022 Q2 | 170 | 162 | 8 | 4.7% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 156 |
| 2022 Q1 | 137 | 128 | 9 | 6.6% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 184 |
| 2021 Q4 | 233 | 221 | 12 | 5.2% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 206 |
| 2021 Q3 | 214 | 200 | 14 | 6.5% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 213 |
| 2021 Q2 | 254 | 235 | 19 | 7.5% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 245 |
| 2021 Q1 | 166 | 158 | 8 | 4.8% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 257 |
| 2020 Q4 | 206 | 200 | 6 | 2.9% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 183 |
| 2020 Q3 | 177 | 170 | 7 | 4.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 244 |
| 2020 Q2 | 143 | 134 | 9 | 6.3% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 154 |
| 2020 Q1 | 155 | 148 | 7 | 4.5% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 182 |
| 2019 Q4 | 165 | 155 | 10 | 6.1% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 170 |
| 2019 Q3 | 181 | 172 | 9 | 5.0% | — | 100.0% | 196 |
| 2019 Q2 | 174 | 161 | 13 | 7.5% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 182 |
| 2019 Q1 | 159 | 150 | 9 | 5.7% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 203 |
| 2018 Q4 | 157 | 149 | 8 | 5.1% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 172 |
| 2018 Q3 | 179 | 175 | 4 | 2.2% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 189 |
| 2018 Q2 | 199 | 186 | 13 | 6.5% | 100.0% | 98.3% | 195 |
| 2018 Q1 | 144 | 137 | 7 | 4.9% | — | 100.0% | 195 |
| 2017 Q4 | 167 | 157 | 10 | 6.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 167 |
| 2017 Q3 | 175 | 168 | 7 | 4.0% | 100.0% | 97.9% | 178 |
| 2017 Q2 | 212 | 202 | 10 | 4.7% | 100.0% | 94.0% | 220 |
| 2017 Q1 | 179 | 170 | 9 | 5.0% | 100.0% | 92.3% | 214 |
| 2016 Q4 | 152 | 144 | 8 | 5.3% | 100.0% | 92.3% | 184 |
| 2016 Q3 | 177 | 172 | 5 | 2.8% | 100.0% | 97.1% | 190 |
| 2016 Q2 | 201 | 194 | 7 | 3.5% | 100.0% | 94.2% | 189 |
| 2016 Q1 | 154 | 142 | 12 | 7.8% | 100.0% | 93.2% | 213 |
| 2015 Q4 | 168 | 158 | 10 | 6.0% | 100.0% | 91.2% | 157 |
| 2015 Q3 | 183 | 171 | 12 | 6.6% | 100.0% | 91.5% | 210 |
| 2015 Q2 | 196 | 194 | 2 | 1.0% | 100.0% | 97.4% | 210 |
| 2015 Q1 | 142 | 139 | 3 | 2.1% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 199 |
| 2014 Q4 | 165 | 156 | 9 | 5.5% | 100.0% | 93.5% | 162 |
| 2014 Q3 | 162 | 153 | 9 | 5.6% | 100.0% | 86.5% | 182 |
| 2014 Q2 | 220 | 212 | 8 | 3.6% | 100.0% | 93.2% | 190 |
| 2014 Q1 | 177 | 164 | 4 | 2.3% | 66.7% | 90.2% | 238 |
| 2013 Q4 | 210 | 191 | 10 | 4.8% | 91.7% | 96.4% | 192 |
| 2013 Q3 | 218 | 193 | 7 | 3.2% | 83.3% | 94.5% | 223 |
| 2013 Q2 | 240 | 219 | 12 | 5.0% | 85.7% | 95.5% | 236 |
| 2013 Q1 | 155 | 142 | 10 | 6.5% | 100.0% | 90.0% | 234 |
| 2012 Q4 | 194 | 178 | 9 | 4.6% | 66.7% | 88.9% | 179 |
| 2012 Q3 | 212 | 189 | 13 | 6.1% | 80.0% | 94.5% | 213 |
| 2012 Q2 | 248 | 229 | 8 | 3.2% | 72.7% | 89.2% | 240 |
| 2012 Q1 | 183 | 168 | 12 | 6.6% | 87.5% | 95.3% | 237 |
| 2011 Q4 | 199 | 178 | 12 | 6.0% | 77.8% | 95.1% | 197 |
| 2011 Q3 | 273 | 249 | 13 | 4.8% | 57.1% | 95.1% | 259 |
| 2011 Q2 | 243 | 213 | 15 | 6.2% | 85.7% | 92.5% | 280 |
| 2011 Q1 | 175 | 162 | 9 | 5.1% | 50.0% | 88.7% | 242 |
| 2010 Q4 | 257 | 230 | 16 | 6.2% | 62.5% | 94.3% | 223 |
| 2010 Q3 | 301 | 265 | 20 | 6.6% | 100.0% | 95.2% | 283 |
| 2010 Q2 | 291 | 253 | 25 | 8.6% | 88.9% | 97.4% | 317 |
| 2010 Q1 | 243 | 215 | 20 | 8.2% | 77.8% | 90.5% | 282 |
| 2009 Q4 | 251 | 218 | 22 | 8.8% | 83.3% | 89.0% | 262 |
| 2009 Q3 | 278 | 241 | 23 | 8.3% | 83.3% | 88.5% | 274 |
| 2009 Q2 | 223 | 188 | 25 | 11.2% | 50.0% | 88.0% | 295 |
| 2009 Q1 | 221 | 188 | 22 | 10.0% | 76.9% | 88.7% | 239 |
| 2008 Q4 | 218 | 189 | 25 | 11.5% | 90.9% | 90.4% | 237 |
| 2008 Q3 | 302 | 273 | 25 | 8.3% | 91.7% | 90.8% | 284 |
| 2008 Q2 | 337 | 308 | 27 | 8.0% | 61.9% | 80.3% | 343 |
| 2008 Q1 | 288 | 268 | 14 | 4.9% | 52.9% | 81.9% | 328 |
| 2007 Q4 | 278 | 238 | 31 | 11.2% | 81.3% | 86.9% | 283 |
| 2007 Q3 | 333 | 293 | 27 | 8.1% | 77.8% | 85.5% | 352 |
| 2007 Q2 | 371 | 317 | 42 | 11.3% | 93.8% | 90.1% | 384 |
| 2007 Q1 | 309 | 264 | 35 | 11.3% | 75.0% | 93.3% | 391 |
| 2006 Q4 | 342 | 309 | 20 | 5.8% | 41.7% | 84.4% | 354 |
| 2006 Q3 | 314 | 279 | 27 | 8.6% | 78.6% | 86.8% | 335 |
| 2006 Q2 | 419 | 376 | 33 | 7.9% | 88.2% | 87.3% | 413 |
| 2006 Q1 | 294 | 260 | 28 | 9.5% | 75.0% | 80.0% | 386 |
| 2005 Q4 | 295 | 254 | 32 | 10.8% | 80.0% | 87.0% | 287 |
| 2005 Q3 | 339 | 312 | 21 | 6.2% | 33.3% | 83.3% | 361 |
| 2005 Q2 | 409 | 368 | 35 | 8.6% | 64.3% | 79.6% | 397 |
| 2005 Q1 | 305 | 256 | 41 | 13.4% | 64.7% | 78.5% | 385 |
| 2004 Q4 | 432 | 348 | 73 | 16.9% | 57.7% | 79.3% | 375 |
| 2004 Q3 | 542 | 470 | 63 | 11.6% | 78.9% | 77.0% | 414 |
| 2004 Q2 | 442 | 382 | 58 | 13.1% | 20.0% | 78.6% | 531 |
| 2004 Q1 | 331 | 282 | 42 | 12.7% | 50.0% | 72.4% | 432 |
| 2003 Q4 | 328 | 282 | 45 | 13.7% | 66.7% | 57.7% | 335 |
| 2003 Q3 | 386 | 344 | 41 | 10.6% | 46.2% | 69.3% | 375 |
| 2003 Q2 | 375 | 318 | 56 | 14.9% | 40.0% | 65.6% | 410 |
| 2003 Q1 | 278 | 245 | 29 | 10.4% | 75.0% | 71.4% | 317 |
| 2002 Q4 | 323 | 284 | 30 | 9.3% | 33.3% | 79.0% | 309 |
| 2002 Q3 | 361 | 317 | 42 | 11.6% | 27.3% | 50.0% | 334 |
| 2002 Q2 | 294 | 267 | 25 | 8.5% | 25.0% | 54.1% | 359 |
| 2002 Q1 | 235 | 206 | 26 | 11.1% | 25.0% | 54.0% | 393 |
| 2001 Q4 | 287 | 234 | 52 | 18.1% | 58.3% | 62.7% | 261 |
| 2001 Q3 | 263 | 221 | 39 | 14.8% | 60.0% | 37.8% | 291 |
| 2001 Q2 | 293 | 243 | 49 | 16.7% | 62.5% | 25.4% | 245 |
| 2001 Q1 | 208 | 180 | 23 | 11.1% | 30.0% | 42.9% | 312 |
| 2000 Q4 | 228 | 191 | 29 | 12.7% | 42.9% | 55.6% | 197 |
| 2000 Q3 | 249 | 200 | 40 | 16.1% | 80.0% | 59.3% | 260 |
| 2000 Q2 | 215 | 189 | 18 | 8.4% | 50.0% | 61.3% | 259 |
| 2000 Q1 | 221 | 210 | 10 | 4.5% | 57.1% | 63.8% | 244 |
| 1999 Q4 | 211 | 185 | 18 | 8.5% | 50.0% | 52.4% | 218 |
| 1999 Q3 | 292 | 260 | 24 | 8.2% | 52.9% | 77.6% | 305 |
| 1999 Q2 | 289 | 262 | 19 | 6.6% | 69.2% | 54.8% | 268 |
| 1999 Q1 | 195 | 173 | 14 | 7.2% | 42.9% | 47.8% | 294 |
| 1998 Q4 | 240 | 187 | 34 | 14.2% | 52.9% | 56.5% | 212 |
| 1998 Q3 | 280 | 246 | 19 | 6.8% | 71.4% | 50.6% | 267 |
| 1998 Q2 | 290 | 251 | 30 | 10.3% | 46.2% | 58.0% | 293 |
| 1998 Q1 | 236 | 200 | 24 | 10.2% | 70.0% | 42.9% | 246 |
| 1997 Q4 | 249 | 219 | 20 | 8.0% | 50.0% | 30.3% | 220 |
| 1997 Q3 | 221 | 189 | 16 | 7.2% | 66.7% | 58.9% | 270 |
| 1997 Q2 | 289 | 260 | 22 | 7.6% | 50.0% | 48.6% | 297 |
| 1997 Q1 | 209 | 185 | 15 | 7.2% | 50.0% | 45.1% | 239 |
| 1996 Q4 | 232 | 190 | 28 | 12.1% | 71.4% | 41.1% | 224 |
| 1996 Q3 | 249 | 225 | 19 | 7.6% | 40.0% | 47.7% | 175 |
| 1996 Q2 | 344 | 298 | 31 | 9.0% | 21.7% | 40.2% | 276 |
| 1996 Q1 | 260 | 242 | 18 | 6.9% | 25.0% | 47.5% | — |
| 1995 Q4 | 255 | 245 | 10 | 3.9% | 33.3% | 49.0% | — |
| 1995 Q3 | 271 | 249 | 22 | 8.1% | 56.3% | 56.0% | — |
| 1995 Q2 | 290 | 268 | 22 | 7.6% | 41.2% | 57.9% | — |
| 1995 Q1 | 237 | 215 | 22 | 9.3% | 44.4% | 53.3% | — |
| 1994 Q4 | 271 | 254 | 17 | 6.3% | 16.7% | 56.8% | — |
| 1994 Q3 | 292 | 268 | 24 | 8.2% | 60.0% | 38.5% | — |
| 1994 Q2 | 321 | 291 | 30 | 9.3% | 80.0% | 39.8% | — |
| 1994 Q1 | 227 | 207 | 20 | 8.8% | 20.0% | 37.9% | — |
| 1993 Q4 | 311 | 287 | 24 | 7.7% | 52.9% | 28.6% | — |
| 1993 Q3 | 284 | 262 | 22 | 7.7% | 44.4% | 49.1% | — |
| 1993 Q2 | 291 | 273 | 18 | 6.2% | 42.9% | 34.7% | — |
| 1993 Q1 | 217 | 197 | 20 | 9.2% | 50.0% | 46.3% | — |
| 1992 Q4 | 266 | 233 | 33 | 12.4% | 36.4% | 42.9% | — |
| 1992 Q3 | 289 | 267 | 22 | 7.6% | 44.4% | 50.0% | — |
| 1992 Q2 | 273 | 239 | 34 | 12.5% | 20.0% | 51.4% | — |
| 1992 Q1 | 248 | 228 | 20 | 8.1% | 55.6% | 52.0% | — |
| 1991 Q4 | 289 | 255 | 34 | 11.8% | 36.4% | 44.3% | — |
| 1991 Q3 | 260 | 239 | 21 | 8.1% | 33.3% | 38.0% | — |
| 1991 Q2 | 327 | 302 | 25 | 7.6% | 46.7% | 46.6% | — |
| 1991 Q1 | 283 | 255 | 28 | 9.9% | 50.0% | 52.8% | — |
| 1990 Q4 | 311 | 275 | 36 | 11.6% | 64.3% | 37.7% | — |
| 1990 Q3 | 382 | 338 | 44 | 11.5% | 33.3% | 34.4% | — |
| 1990 Q2 | 559 | 480 | 79 | 14.1% | 33.3% | 14.0% | — |
| 1990 Q1 | 338 | 275 | 63 | 18.6% | 35.0% | 17.6% | — |
| 1989 Q4 | 536 | 444 | 92 | 17.2% | 10.7% | 3.4% | — |
| 1989 Q3 | 349 | 277 | 72 | 20.6% | 14.3% | 0.0% | — |
| 1989 Q2 | 428 | 337 | 91 | 21.3% | 20.0% | 5.3% | — |
| 1989 Q1 | 431 | 349 | 82 | 19.0% | 38.5% | 17.3% | — |
| 1988 Q4 | 425 | 379 | 46 | 10.8% | 56.0% | 17.0% | — |
| 1988 Q3 | 428 | 346 | 82 | 19.2% | 43.8% | 28.1% | — |
| 1988 Q2 | 529 | 467 | 62 | 11.7% | 37.0% | 20.3% | — |
| 1988 Q1 | 428 | 382 | 46 | 10.7% | 31.0% | 38.1% | — |
| 1987 Q4 | 414 | 375 | 39 | 9.4% | 37.5% | 35.6% | — |
| 1987 Q3 | 415 | 354 | 61 | 14.7% | 60.0% | 14.4% | — |
| 1987 Q2 | 375 | 330 | 45 | 12.0% | 87.5% | 33.9% | — |
| 1987 Q1 | 352 | 324 | 28 | 8.0% | 100.0% | 50.3% | — |
| 1986 Q4 | 335 | 278 | 57 | 17.0% | 62.5% | 51.3% | — |
| 1986 Q3 | 309 | 279 | 30 | 9.7% | 71.4% | 50.5% | — |
| 1986 Q2 | 432 | 394 | 38 | 8.8% | 64.3% | 59.1% | — |
| 1986 Q1 | 256 | 216 | 40 | 15.6% | 60.0% | 53.5% | — |
| 1985 Q4 | 272 | 243 | 29 | 10.7% | 20.0% | 52.0% | — |
| 1985 Q3 | 273 | 247 | 26 | 9.5% | 83.3% | 63.1% | — |
| 1985 Q2 | 285 | 255 | 30 | 10.5% | 68.4% | 60.2% | — |
| 1985 Q1 | 260 | 242 | 18 | 6.9% | 66.7% | 64.5% | — |
| 1984 Q4 | 249 | 224 | 25 | 10.0% | 100.0% | 67.7% | — |
| 1984 Q3 | 249 | 224 | 25 | 10.0% | 87.5% | 67.4% | — |
| 1984 Q2 | 344 | 304 | 40 | 11.6% | 70.6% | 65.7% | — |
| 1984 Q1 | 222 | 201 | 21 | 9.5% | 90.9% | 62.1% | — |
| 1983 Q4 | 296 | 270 | 26 | 8.8% | 75.0% | 67.6% | — |
| 1983 Q3 | 294 | 263 | 31 | 10.5% | 83.3% | 54.5% | — |
| 1983 Q2 | 309 | 282 | 27 | 8.7% | 71.4% | 62.9% | — |
| 1983 Q1 | 248 | 216 | 32 | 12.9% | 50.0% | 48.1% | — |
| 1982 Q4 | 264 | 233 | 31 | 11.7% | 66.7% | 47.4% | — |
| 1982 Q3 | 319 | 287 | 32 | 10.0% | — | 60.8% | — |
| 1982 Q2 | 264 | 231 | 33 | 12.5% | 100.0% | 61.5% | — |
| 1982 Q1 | 206 | 185 | 21 | 10.2% | 0.0% | 57.1% | — |
| 1981 Q4 | 303 | 263 | 40 | 13.2% | 100.0% | 57.7% | — |
| 1981 Q3 | 250 | 215 | 35 | 14.0% | 80.0% | 57.1% | — |
| 1981 Q2 | 389 | 334 | 55 | 14.1% | 33.3% | 53.7% | — |
| 1981 Q1 | 300 | 265 | 35 | 11.7% | 66.7% | 69.8% | — |
| 1980 Q4 | 286 | 236 | 50 | 17.5% | 66.7% | 49.5% | — |
| 1980 Q3 | 359 | 294 | 65 | 18.1% | 18.8% | 55.6% | — |
| 1980 Q2 | 411 | 333 | 78 | 19.0% | 28.6% | 43.9% | — |
| 1980 Q1 | 372 | 309 | 63 | 16.9% | 50.0% | 48.0% | — |
| 1979 Q4 | 378 | 320 | 58 | 15.3% | 60.0% | 55.9% | — |
| 1979 Q3 | 376 | 309 | 67 | 17.8% | 50.0% | 46.8% | — |
| 1979 Q2 | 307 | 267 | 40 | 13.0% | 0.0% | 40.0% | — |
Decisions and speed: MHCLG planning application statistics (PS1/PS2), Open Government Licence v3.0, 2025 Q3 – 2026 Q2. Speed figures exclude prior approvals and are measured against the statutory period or agreed extension. Appeal figures: our aggregation of published Planning Inspectorate decisions, 2021–2026 — a different period from the decision figures above. Designation thresholds shown are indicative, not official.