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 dates55,808Searchable applications
415Recorded as pending
80%Approval rate · 47,672 approved or refused records
9,682Refused applications
37,990 approved · 9,682 refused · 2,995 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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/0275/26
Approval of details reserved by conditions No. 11 Details of surface water disposal and No. 13 Landscape details of EPF/2473/25 (Variation of Condition 2 Plan numbers and 7 Materials of EPF/0856/25 (Replacement Single Dwelling House)).
28, Ollards Grove, Loughton, IG10 4DW
Received 11 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0278/26
TPO/EPF/18/88 (Ref: A4) T1: Oak - Reduce lateral and sub-lateral branches away from property by up to 1.5m, as specified. Crown reduce height by up to 1.5m, as specified. T2: Ash - Reduce lateral and sub-lateral growth of stem growing towards property by up to 3m, as specified. Reduce low limb exending over footpath by up to 3m, as specified. NB: The permitted specification of works is detailed in the conditions below.
29, Retreat Way, Chigwell, IG7 6EL
Received 11 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0277/26
Application to discharge requirement 3 – Written scheme setting out all stages of the authorised development (SW 3 C) 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 (Revised application to EPF/0226/25 & EPF/2072/25).
Waltham Cross to Tottenham Substation, near to Highbridge Street, Waltham Abbey
Received 11 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0279/26
Prior approval for change of use from commercial office space to two semi-detached 3 bedroom houses. See also EPF/0244/26 for external alterations.
Unit 4 Bansons Yard Bansons Yard High Street Ongar CM5 9AA
Received 11 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0280/26
Summer house-outbuilding in place of existing rear garage/storage.
11, Bramley Shaw, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3NN
Received 11 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0281/26
Certificate of Lawful Development for three bay cart lodge and extension to existing driveway.
Hastingwood House, Hastingwood Road, Hastingwood, Harlow, CM17 9JX
Received 12 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0282/26
Single storey extension and loft conversion with rear dormer.
21, Parkmead, Loughton, IG10 3JW
Received 12 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0283/26
Dropped Kerb & Crossover
1 Marydel, Copthall Green, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3TB
Received 12 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0284/26
Replace existing section of fence with 1m high timber, chestnut close boarded fence separating the rewilded land and the sitting out area following enforcement appeal decision.
The Mole Trap Ph, Annexe, Tawney Common, Stapleford Tawney, Romford, CM16 7PU
Received 12 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0285/26
Listed building consent for replacement of existing section of fence with 1m high timber, chestnut close boarded fence separating the rewilded land and the sitting out area following enforcement appeal decision.
The Mole Trap Ph, Annexe, Tawney Common, Stapleford Tawney, Romford, CM16 7PU
Received 12 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0286/26
Prior approval for conversion of an agricultural building into 3 bedroom property.
The Cot, Tysea Hill, Stapleford Abbotts, Romford, RM4 1JU
Received 12 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0287/26
Rear and part side single storey extension, replacement wall finishes to existing dormer, bay window to front elevation and garage/outbuilding to front of property.
15, Dunmow Close, Loughton, IG10 3AS
Received 12 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0288/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Conditions 6 Types and Colours of external finishes, 7 Hard and Soft Landscaping and 17 Broadband of EPF/0463/20 Allowed on Appeal (The erection of a three storey building to provide 2 x 2 bedroom semi-detached houses with associated car parking, amenity space and landscaping).
19, Orchard Way, Chigwell, IG7 6EE
Received 12 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0289/26
Proposed single storey rear extension.
6, Pump Hill, Loughton, IG10 1RT
Received 12 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0292/26
Loft conversion including a hip-to-gable roof extension, rear dormer, and roof windows to the front roof slope.
10, Rous Road, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 6BL
Received 12 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0291/26
Demolition of an existing two storey chalet and construction of a replacement self-build new dwelling.
19, Brook Rise, Chigwell, IG7 6AP
Received 12 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0290/26
Proposed outbuilding.
65, Southview Road, Loughton, IG10 3LQ
Received 12 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0293/26
Two and one storey side and rear extensions.
16, Morgan Crescent, Theydon Bois, Epping, CM16 7DX
Received 13 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0294/26
Certificate of Lawful Development for proposed loft conversion.
4 Monarch Place, Princes Road, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 5DP
Received 13 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0295/26
Demolition of existing single storey rear extension and construction of replacement orangery style rear extension. Front elevation enhancements including fenestration changes and new front dormer to existing loft space.
Chestnuts, Nursery Road, Loughton, IG10 4EF
Received 13 Feb 2026 - Under ConsultationEPF/0296/26
New dwelling and artist studio.
Lillicroft, Abridge Road, Theydon Bois, Epping, CM16 7NR
Received 13 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0303/26
Listed building consent for installation of 1 x wall mounted sign.
The Blue Boar Public House, Market Place, Lambourne, Romford, RM4 1UA
Received 13 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0297/26
First floor rear extension, loft conversion with rear dormer extension and hip to gable, along with internal alterations.
98, Hainault Road, Chigwell, IG7 5DH
Received 13 Feb 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0298/26
Lawful Development Certificate for the use of land as residential garden for a continuous period in excess of 10 years.
Greylands, The Street, Sheering, Harlow, CM22 7LY
Received 13 Feb 2026
Records are ordered by application ID, not submission date. Use search to find a particular address or proposal.
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Set up an area alertResearching a proposal in Epping Forest District Council
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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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