Planning authority
Watford Borough Council
Adopted plan 4 years old; HDT 95%.
Adopted plan
| Plan | Watford Local Plan: A Sustainable Town 2021-2038 |
| Adopted | 17 October 2022 |
| Age | 4 years |
| Plan period | 2021–2038 |
| Housing requirement | 13,328 homes |
| Council's page | The adopted plan |
Plan in preparation
No plan in preparation on record.
From the national planning data platform, which can lag behind the council. Known gaps
Housing Delivery Test
| Measurement | 95% (2025) |
Applications
| Period | July 2025 to June 2026 |
| Received | 491 |
| Decided | 496 |
| Granted | 396 (80%; England 87%) |
| Refused | 100 |
| Major applications decided | 7, of which 6 granted |
| Quarter | Received | Decided | Granted | Refused |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July to September 2025 | 135 | 128 | 103 | 25 |
| October to December 2025 | 117 | 134 | 115 | 19 |
| January to March 2026 | 136 | 116 | 87 | 29 |
| April to June 2026 | 103 | 118 | 91 | 27 |
Appeals
| Decided | 1 September 2021 to 28 August 2026 |
| Planning appeals | 97: 27 allowed, 0 split, 70 dismissed |
| Householder appeals | 92: 35 allowed, 3 split, 54 dismissed |
| Allowed in full or in part | 34% (England 32%) |
Latest planning appeals
| Decided | Site | Development | Procedure | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 August 2026 | Rear Of 291 Whippendell Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 7NN Application 25/00827/FUL | Change of use | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 27 August 2026 | 20 THE GLEBE, WATFORD, HERTFORDSHIRE, WD250LR Application 26/00001/FUL | Other minor developments | Written Representations | Allowed |
| 8 July 2026 | 1 The Coppice, Watford, WD19 4HR Application 25/00604/COU | Change of use, -6 homes | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 15 June 2026 | 352 Whippendell Road, WATFORD, WD18 7PD Application 24/01133/FUL | Minor Dwellings | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 28 May 2026 | 2 Orbital Crescent, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD25 0HA Application 25/00133/FUL | Minor retail and services | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 18 March 2026 | 147 North Approach, Hertfordshire, Watford, WD25 0EP Application 25/00620/FUL | Change of use, 7 homes | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 17 March 2026 | 48-50 High Street, Watford, WD17 2BS Application 25/00726/FUL | Other minor developments | Written Representations | Allowed |
| 6 February 2026 | Footpath Outside 89 High Street, Watford, WD17 2DQ Application 25/00203/FUL | Other minor developments | Written Representations | Allowed |
| 27 January 2026 | 8 Woodhurst Avenue, WATFORD, WD25 9RQ Application 25/00499/HPD | Householder developments | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 21 January 2026 | 18 The Gateway, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 7HW Application 23/00275/FUL | Other minor developments | Written Representations | Dismissed |
Each outcome links to the case on the Planning Inspectorate's site, where the decision letter is published.
Changes recorded
No changes recorded since the tracker started.