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 dates53,532Searchable applications
423Recorded as pending
80%Approval rate · 45,495 approved or refused records
9,269Refused applications
36,226 approved · 9,269 refused · 2,900 withdrawn. Received dates in our records: 2 Jul 1999 to 29 Oct 2026. Most recent record check: 30 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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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/1737/25
Epping Conservation Area T1 & T2: Lime - Crown reduce by up to 2.5m.
236, High Street, Epping, CM16 4AP
Received 28 Aug 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1738/25
Ground floor front extension plus two storey side extension.
31, Ely Place, Chigwell, IG8 8AG
Received 28 Aug 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1739/25
TPO/EPF/16/94 (Ref: G1) T1: Horse Chestnut - Crown reduce by up to 5m, as specified. T2: Sycamore - Crown reduce by up to 5m, as specified. Selective prune of two limbs extending over building, as specified. NB: The permitted specification of works is detailed in the conditions below.
7, Duchess Grove, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 5HA
Received 28 Aug 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1740/25
Prior approval for change of agricultural/horticultural buildings to storage use.
Glenholme Nusery, Nursery Road, Nazeing, Waltham Abbey, EN9 2JF
Received 28 Aug 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1742/25
Erection of a ground floor single storey rear extension.
52, Hornbeam Road, Theydon Bois, Epping, CM16 7JX
Received 28 Aug 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1741/25
Application for approval of details reserved by condition 9 'Tree Protection Plan and Arboricultural Method Statement' on planning permission EPF/1150/24 (Demolition of existing outbuildings and construction of an ancillary building to accommodate a laundry room, workshop, general storage and a covered parking area for 6 vehicles. As well as a generator and refuse storage area).
Pepper Alley, Mott Street, Waltham Abbey, IG10 4AP
Received 27 Aug 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1744/25
Certificate of Lawful Development for conversion of garage to habitable use.
52, Hornbeam Road, Theydon Bois, Epping, CM16 7JX
Received 28 Aug 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1747/25
Certificate of lawful development for a proposed single storey outbuilding.
66, Grange Crescent, Chigwell, IG7 5JF
Received 29 Aug 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1745/25
Variation to condition 2 `plan numbers' of EPF/1445/24 (Ground floor rear extension, first floor rear extension, loft conversion & garage into habitable room).
10, Farm Way, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 5AH
Received 29 Aug 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1746/25
Erect 2No. canopies over 6x existing Padel Courts
Waltham Abbey Town Mead, Sports and Leisure Area, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1JH
Received 29 Aug 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1748/25
Demolition of existing ground floor rear extension with new proposed double storey side, single storey rear and first floor extensions.
39, Lower Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 6DN
Received 29 Aug 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1749/25
Extension to rear and side of property, and associated landscape works.
2, Clays Lane, Loughton, IG10 2RZ
Received 29 Aug 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1750/25
Conversion of roof of cart lodge to home office and insertion of garage doors.
Ash Barn, Chelmsford Road, High Ongar, CM5 9NX
Received 29 Aug 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1751/25
Conversion of residential Class C3 to 9 occupant HMO (Sui Generis).
6, Crooked Mile, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1PS
Received 29 Aug 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1752/25
Proposed single storey rear extension with flat roof
Bridge House, Dunmow Road, Fyfield, Ongar, CM5 0NN
Received 1 Sept 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1753/25
Application for approval of details reserved by Approval of Details Reserved by Condition 3A, 3B, 7 (contamination), condition 4 (flood risk assessment and management and maintenance plan), condition 5 and 11 (surface water drainage ) on planning permission EPF/1773/23 (Demolition of an existing outbuilding and construction of five terraced chalet bungalows with associated shared surface and parking and adjusted access from Townmead Road).
Land to the side and rear of , 41 Townmead Road, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1RP
Received 1 Sept 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1754/25/DOV
Deed of variation to EPF/2601/22 Allowed at Appeal - (Outline application for the redevelopment of the site to provide up to 52 later living apartments (Extra Care Housing) incorporating a convenience shop and café (use class E); 13 retirement cottages (Extra Care Housing); 10 self build & custom build houses; 4 affordable houses, open space, bowling green, children's play area and improved local bus service; all matters reserved except access).
Land to the South & East of the former Chimes Garden Centre, Nazeing, Waltham Abbey, EN10 6RJ
Received 1 Sept 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1755/25
Request for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Opinion - Proposed Development of a Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Farm with Associated Infrastructure, at Land to the west of Foster Street, Harlow, CM17 0PF, connecting to an existing Point of Connection (PoC) at KAO Data’s Harlow Campus.
Land to the West of Foster Street, Harlow, CM17
Received 1 Sept 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1756/25
Proposed Alterations and Extensions to As-Built Dwelling.
Hobbans Cottage, Moreton Road, Ongar, CM5 0LX
Received 1 Sept 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1757/25
Construction of an area of hardstanding incorporating soft landscaping and topsoil storage bund.
The Warren, Nursery Road, Loughton, IG10 4RN
Received 1 Sept 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1758/25
Nazeing & South Roydon Conservation Area T1: Oak - Fell
Orchard Cottage, Middle Street, Nazeing, Waltham Abbey, EN9 2LP
Received 1 Sept 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1759/25
Non-Material Amendments to EPF/0035/24 and associated s73 application EPF/0855/25 (Redevelopment of the site to provide a new self-storage facility (Use Class B8), new light Industrial workspace / incubator units (Use Class E(g)(iii)) and a new hotel (Use Class C1) with associated car and cycle parking, landscaping and other works ancillary to the development.) - Minor alterations to the description of development & Condition 25 (Permitted Use Classes).
1, Langston Road, Loughton, IG10 3SD
Received 1 Sept 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1760/25
Loft conversion with front dormer and 1 rooflight to rear.
9, Langland Place, Roydon, Harlow, CM19 5FS
Received 1 Sept 2025 - Decision MadeEPF/1764/25
Application for approval of details reserved by condition 24 (Details Of Boilers) on planning permission EPF/0016/19 (Proposed development of x 23 no. new homes with associated parking facilities, cycle stores and rubbish disposal).
Gypsy Mead Works, Ongar Road, Fyfield, Ongar, CM5 0RB
Received 2 Sept 2025
Records are ordered by application ID, not submission date. Use search to find a particular address or proposal.
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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.
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