June 2026 – Market Insight Report

Planning application activity picked up in June 2026, with 48,958 applications submitted during the month. This represents a 14% increase compared with May 2026, although the number of applications was 1% lower than in June 2025.

The increase marks a stronger month-on-month position with applications increasing across all regions compared with May. The North West, West Midlands and East Midlands recorded the largest percentage increases, while Wales saw a more marginal increase of just over 100 applications 

Regional trends in June 

Most regions recorded fewer planning submissions than in June 2025, with decreases of up to 13%. Wales recorded the largest percentage decrease, with applications down 13%.

The South East saw the largest numerical decrease, with 264 fewer applications submitted than in June 2025.

For the first half of 2026, overall application numbers remain 6% below the same period in 2025.

Wales has recorded the largest percentage decrease so far this year, down 20%, representing 2,100 fewer applications. The South East has seen the largest numerical reduction, with almost 4200 fewer planning applications submitted so far this year.

The West Midlands recorded the smallest percentage decrease, with application numbers down 2% compared with the same period in 2025.

Householder applications

Householder planning applications followed the wider June trend. Overall submissions were 4% lower than in June 2025, but increased by 11% compared with May 2026.

Applications for commercial-to-dwellinghouse developments saw a sharper decrease, with submissions down 23% compared with the same month last year. Applications for larger home extensions also decreased, coming in 2% lower than in June 2025.

Full planning application

Full planning applications increased month on month in June, with submissions 27% higher than in May 2026.

However, when compared with June 2025, full planning applications were 5% lower, representing 476 fewer applications. Outline applications also recorded a decrease, with submissions 1% lower than in June 2025.

Other application types

June also recorded activity in a newly added application category: Permission in Principle. A total of 118 Permission in Principle applications were submitted during the month.

As this category has only recently been added, future updates will continue to track how Permission in Principle applications develop over time.

What does June’s figures tell us?

Overall, this month saw planning application activity pick up after the lower levels recorded in May, with increases seen across all regions and several key application categories. However, application numbers remained lower than in June 2025.

For applicants, agents and local planning authorities, the coming months will be important in showing whether June marks the start of a more sustained increase in submission activity.

Forthcoming Market Insight Reports will continue to track how planning application trends develop across regions and application types.