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 dates55,675Searchable applications
415Recorded as pending
80%Approval rate · 47,553 approved or refused records
9,663Refused applications
37,890 approved · 9,663 refused · 2,987 withdrawn. Received dates in our records: 29 Jan 1996 to 29 Oct 2026. Most recent record check: 31 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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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/0204/26
Change of use of agricultural buildings to B2 flexible use and storage of empty containers.
Nash Hall, The Street, High Ongar, Ongar, CM5 9NL
Received 2 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0205/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition 7 Water Efficiency of EPF/2868/20 Allowed on Appeal (Proposed mixed-use development to provide 35 residential dwellings (Use Class C3) and 512 sqm of commercial floorspace (Use Class E) together with cycle and car parking, landscaping, provision of new pavement and loading bay on Brook Mews and associated infrastructure).
177, High Road, Chigwell, IG7 6NX
Received 2 Feb 2026 - Under ConsultationEPF/0206/26
Variation of Conditions 2 Plan numbers and 19 Parking Arrangements of EPF/2868/20 Allowed on Appeal (Proposed mixed-use development to provide 35 residential dwellings (Use Class C3) and 512 sqm of commercial floorspace (Use Class E) together with cycle and car parking, landscaping, provision of new pavement and loading bay on Brook Mews and associated infrastructure). To allow for PV panels and an alteration to the parking layout
177 High Road Chigwell IG7 6NX
Received 2 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0207/26
Proposed extensions & alterations to existing dwelling house to facilitate a basement level gym.
50, Forest Lane, Chigwell, IG7 5AE
Received 2 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0208/26
Proposed freestanding treehouse.
Coopers, 84 Coopers Hill, Ongar, CM5 9EF
Received 2 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0209/26
Certificate of Lawful Development for proposed HMO for up to 6 persons.
10, Manor Road, Chigwell, IG7 5PD
Received 2 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0210/26
Certificate of Lawful Development for proposed loft conversion with rear dormer and front roof lights.
15, Churchill Close, Ongar, CM5 9BH
Received 2 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0212/26
Extension to rear and side of property, and associated landscape works.
2, Clays Lane, Loughton, IG10 2RZ
Received 2 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0211/26
Grade II Listed Building Consent for emergency restoration and roof repair.
Honeysuckle Cottage, Curtis Mill Lane, Stapleford Abbotts, Romford, RM4 1HS
Received 2 Feb 2026 - Under ConsultationEPF/0213/26
Part Retrospective - Change of use from agricultural building to holiday let accommodation involving external alterations.
Norton Fishery, Epping Lane, Stapleford Tawney, Romford, RM4 1ST
Received 2 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0214/26
TPO/EPF/07/11 (Ref: T1, T5, T7) T37: Oak - Crown reduce to allow 2m clearance from building, as specified. T42: Oak - Crown reduce by up to 2m, as specified. T44: Scots Pine - Crown reduce to allow 1m clearance from building, as specified. NB: The permitted specification of works is detailed in the conditions below.
St Johns C Of E Primary School, High Road, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 5RX
Received 3 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0215/26
Single storey side extension.
28, Lincolns Field, Epping, CM16 5DZ
Received 3 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0216/26
Proposed 3no car, car port.
Spinney Farm, Spinney Farm Barn, Workers Road, High Laver, Ongar, CM5 0DZ
Received 3 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0217/26
Nazeing & South Roydon Conservation Area A1: Ash - Fell. S1: Sycamore - Fell.
The Anchorage, Epping Road, Roydon, Harlow, CM19 5DD
Received 3 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0218/26
Installation of internal lift in former granary structure linking the ground and first floor.
Rockhills Farm, Norton Heath Road, Willingale, Ongar, CM5 0QG
Received 3 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0219/26
Non-Material Amendment to EPF/0022/23 (The demolition of an existing 4 bedroom detached house and erection of two semi-detached 4 bedroom houses).
34, Crows Road, Epping, CM16 5DE
Received 3 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0220/26
Bell Common Conservation Area T1: Ash - Fell.
1 Griffins Wood Cottages, High Road, Epping, CM16 4DH
Received 3 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0223/26
Proposed single storey rear extension, internal reconfiguration and removal of outbuilding.
Bridge House, Dunmow Road, Fyfield, Ongar, CM5 0NN
Received 3 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0221/26
Certificate of Lawful Development for proposed conversion of garage and single storey rear extension.
Bushwood, Sidney Road, Theydon Bois, Epping, CM16 7DT
Received 3 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0222/26
Single-storey rear extension.
11, Walton Gardens, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1BL
Received 3 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0224/26
Grade II* Listed Building application for proposed single storey rear extension, internal reconfiguration and removal of outbuilding.
Bridge House, Dunmow Road, Fyfield, Ongar, CM5 0NN
Received 3 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0226/26
Certificate of Lawful Development for proposed single storey rear extension.
Woodlea, Parklands, Coopersale, Epping, CM16 7RF
Received 3 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0225/26
Partial demolition and extension of existing stable structure to provide facilities more suitable for non-profit organisation, Chigwell Trust. (Revised application to EPF/0350/25).
Land adjacent to Jessica Chase Lane Chigwell Essex IG7 6JW
Received 3 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0227/26
Application to discharge Requirement 10 (Stage 5b) - Drainage by National Grid Electricity Transmission plc for an Order Granting Development Consent for the North London Reinforcement Project for the uprating of an existing 275kV transmission line of approximately 14km in length from Waltham Cross substation to Tottenham substation to enable it to run at a voltage of 400kV, together with associated development.
Waltham Cross to Tottenham Substation, near to Highbridge Street, Waltham Abbey
Received 4 Feb 2026
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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