Understanding planning · 13 min read
Planning application documents: what to read first
Understand planning application documents, officer reports and decision notices. Use a reading checklist, document table and worked example to inspect a case.
England · Local authority
Epping Forest planning applications
PlanningTrack collects planning applications and decisions from the public planning register of Epping Forest District Council. Also known as EFDC.Search an address, application reference or proposal. Official Epping Forest website
Collected application statistics
Collected records · All available dates44,125Searchable applications
404Recorded as pending
80%Approval rate · 36,574 approved or refused records
7,362Refused applications
29,212 approved · 7,362 refused · 2,421 withdrawn. Received dates in our records: 2 Jul 1999 to 23 Oct 2026. Most recent record check: 25 Oct 2026. Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.
Local planning information
Council sources checked 14 Sept 2026Planning information Planning and buildingLocal plan Planning and buildingPre-application advice Planning and buildingArticle 4 directions Planning and building
Conservation areas and Article 4 directions
Explore published planning boundaries and follow their source records for designation details. Coverage varies: an empty map does not mean there are no restrictions. Check the council’s current maps and documents before relying on a boundary.
Conservation areas25 mapped area records
Article 4 direction areasNo boundary records available in this collection
Interactive planning map loads with JavaScript. Dataset sources are linked below.
Download Article 4 coverage for all authorities (CSV)
Data downloaded 14 Sept 2026. Display boundaries are simplified and indicative. Map record counts are not a complete count of designations or directions.
Sources: Planning Data conservation areas and Article 4 direction areas. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
More application records
- Decision MadeEPF/0424/24
Variation to condition 1 'Opening times' on planning permission EPF/0470/96 allowed on appeal (Change of use of ground floor from builders merchants to Restaurant)
2, Smeaton Road, Chigwell, IG8 8BD
Received 1 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0425/24
Certificate of lawful development for a proposed loft conversion with a rear dormer window and front rooflights.
86, Monkswood Avenue, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1LJ
Received 1 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0426/24
Application for approval of details reserved by condition 4 'Surface Water Disposal' on planning permission EPF/2781/23 (The proposal is for an outbuilding to be located in the rear garden, existing access arrangements to remain unaltered)
Derwen, Vicarage Lane, Chigwell, IG7 6LS
Received 1 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0427/24
Double front extension, Single rear extension & loft conversion
Elham, Middle Street, Nazeing, Waltham Abbey, EN9 2LQ
Received 1 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0428/24
Prior approval for a proposed single story rear extension to depth of 3.5m, maximum height of 3.05m and height to eaves 2.80m.
62, Sheering Mill Lane, Sheering, Harlow, CM21 9LP
Received 1 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0430/24
Certificate of lawful development for a proposed single storey rear extension.
8, Crooked Way, Nazeing, Waltham Abbey, EN9 2LE
Received 1 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0431/24
Certificate of lawful development for a proposed side extension, rear dormer and new outbuilding.
38, Eastbrook Road, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3AL
Received 1 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0432/24
Single storey rear extension, with two skylights and a flat roof with parapet.
38, Eastbrook Road, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3AL
Received 1 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0433/24
Application to increase the width of existing dropped kerb from 3 no flat kerbs to 5 no flat kerbs.
87, Bower Hill, Epping, CM16 7AW
Received 1 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0435/24
Single storey barn style extension to existing cottage to form ancillary accommodation for a family member.
2 Prospect Villas, Norton Heath Road Old A414, High Ongar, Ingatestone, CM4 0LQ
Received 1 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0436/24
Certificate of lawful development for construction of a pool house.
3 The Grange, Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3QF
Received 1 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0437/24
TPO/EPF/13/91/T3 T3: Yew - Crown reduce to previous pruning points, as specified.
146, Princes Road, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 5DW
Received 1 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0438/24
Along the boundary line on Roding Lane and Chigwell Rise there is existing timber fencing which is dilapidated. We propose to replace this fencing with black palisade fencing which is in height 1.9 metres. The total length of the proposed fencing from starting point on Roding Lane to the end point on Chigwell Rise is approximately 275m. Our fencing will meet the pre existing fencing on the boundary line which outlines the area opposite our area. This will benefit the area as it will deter trespassers and keep he green belt land safe.
Gunsite Cottage, Roding Lane, Chigwell, IG7 6BN
Received 4 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0439/24
Double storey rear and side extension,first floor side extension, front porch.
29, St Marys Way, Chigwell, IG7 5BX
Received 4 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0440/24
Outline planning application for the erection of two detached dwellings with new vehicular access and associated parking and landscaping.
Land between Summer House and Havana, Hamlet Hill, Roydon, CM19 5LA
Received 4 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0441/24
Removal of existing side and rear conservatory. Proposed single storey rear extension with pitched roof. Proposed single storey front extension with pitched roof. New windows, doors and facade finishes.
7, Poplar Row, Theydon Bois, Epping, CM16 7NB
Received 4 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0442/24
TPO/EPF/05/98 (Ref: T42) T1: Lime - Crown reduce to previous points, as specified.
15, Forest Drive, Fyfield, Ongar, CM5 0TP
Received 4 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0443/24
Erection of a Garden Building
The Stables, Murrells Farm, Stanford Rivers, Ongar, CM5 9QE
Received 4 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0444/24
Part single, part two storey side extension. Dormer extension to rear. Front porch
6, Wood Lane, Willingale, Ongar, CM5 0QU
Received 4 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0445/24
Extension to an existing storage and vehicle sales building.
The Leaves, Tylers Road, Roydon, Harlow, CM19 5LJ
Received 4 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0446/24
Proposed side extension
Land Opposite Moreton Lodge , Pedlars End, Ongar , CM5 0LR
Received 4 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0447/24
Alterations to the two approved chimney stacks which incorporated individual lift shafts adjacent to the western front elevation and rear northeastern elevation. approved under reference EPF 1957/15. Retention of increases to the height of each lift tower and alterations to all elevations to apply materials to match the main elevations of the building
Forest Place, Roebuck Lane, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 5QL
Received 4 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0448/24
Demolition of existing house, cottage and garage. Erection of replacement family dwellinghouse. House to be two storeys and basement, with balconies and terrace.
Beech Hill House, Pynest Green Lane, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3QL
Received 4 Mar 2024 - Decision MadeEPF/0449/24
Widening of Existing Vehicular Access by 4m.
Bettina Nursery, Sedge Green, Roydon, Harlow, CM19 5JS
Received 4 Mar 2024
Records are ordered by application ID, not submission date. Use search to find a particular address or proposal.
View all applicationsGet emailed about new planning applications in Epping Forest
Area alerts send a daily or weekly email with new applications and decisions near a postcode, filtered by project type. £29 a month, up to 3 areas. Records are limited to the councils we collect.
Set up an area alertResearching a proposal in Epping Forest District Council
Start with the address or application reference. Open a record to read the proposal, dates and available documents, then check the official register for the latest plans and consultation details. If nothing appears, check coverage before treating the result as a complete planning history.
How to search planning applicationsGuides to planning records
All planning guides
Understanding planning · 13 min read
Planning permission drawings: how to read plans
Read planning drawings, floor plans, elevations and sections. Use labelled diagrams, a drawing comparison table and revision checks to understand a proposal.
UK researchPublished Updated
Property research · 13 min read
Planning approval rates: how to read council statistics
Understand planning approval rates with an interactive calculator, worked examples and comparison table. Check sample sizes, outcomes and coverage before comparing.
UK researchPublished Updated
What these statistics cover
These figures describe applications collected by PlanningTrack for Epping Forest District Council, across all dates currently available. They are a partial dataset, rather than an authority-wide performance measure. The date range does not establish continuous historical coverage.
The approval percentage is approved records divided by approved plus refused records. Pending, withdrawn and unknown outcomes are excluded. No percentage is shown until there is an approved or refused record.
Check collection coverageMore planning authorities in England
- Epsom and Ewell Borough Council
- Erewash Borough Council
- Essex County Council
- Exeter City Council
- Exmoor National Park Authority
- Fareham Borough Council