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 dates57,209Searchable applications
413Recorded as pending
80%Approval rate · 48,990 approved or refused records
9,925Refused applications
39,065 approved · 9,925 refused · 3,043 withdrawn. Received dates in our records: 29 Jan 1996 to 29 Oct 2026. Most recent record check: 1 Nov 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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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/0943/26
TPO/EPF/17/09 T22 & T23: Oak - Prune back overhanging branches by up to 1.5m, as specified. NB: The permitted specification of works is detailed in the conditions below.
33, Bracken Drive, Chigwell, IG7 5RG
Received 13 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0945/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition 2 Landscaping (for 4 Affordable Flats only) of EPF/2601/22 (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).
The Former Chimes Garden Centre Old Nazeing Road, Old Nazeing Road, Nazeing, EN10 6RJ
Received 13 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0944/26
Two and one storey side and rear extensions.
16, Morgan Crescent, Theydon Bois, Epping, CM16 7DX
Received 13 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0946/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition 15 Hard and Soft Landscaping of 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 13 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0947/26
Erection of garage.
West Cottage, Nazeing Park, Betts Lane, Waltham Abbey, EN9 2DN
Received 13 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0948/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition 16 Biodiversity Enhancement Strategy of EPF/1480/23 (The development of 23 dwellings including upgraded access from Fyfield Road, associated parking, landscaping, drainage, infrastructure, new car park provision for Ongar War Memorial Medical Centre and associated development (ONG.R3 - Allocated Site In Ongar)).
Land west of Fyfield Road, Ongar, CM5 0AL
Received 13 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0949/26
Demolition of existing agricultural building. Removal of extant permission for a agricultural workers dwelling reference: EPF/395A/81. Construction of a self-build detached dwelling, garage and annex building. Alteration to previously approved application EPF/0979/21.
Land at Howfields Farm, Tawney Lane, Stapleford Tawney, Romford, RM4 1DE
Received 14 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0950/26
Lower Sheering Conservation Area T1: Willow - Crown reduce by up to 4m.
88, The Meadows, Sheering, Harlow, CM21 9RA
Received 14 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0951/26
Part two-storey, part single storey rear extension.
5, Pemberley, Dominic Court, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1JT
Received 14 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0952/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Informative BNG (The erection of 42no residential dwellings together with highway, car parking and associated works).
Development Land, Oak Hill Road, Stapleford Abbotts, RM4 1JL
Received 14 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0955/26
Certificate of Lawful Development for proposed loft conversion with rear dormer.
61, Alderwood Drive, Lambourne, Romford, RM4 1DJ
Received 15 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0954/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Conditions 6 EVP, 7 Boundary Treatment and 8 Hard and Soft Landscaping (Permission for a two-storey side extension, part one- and part two-storey rear extension, subdivision of the existing property to form two dwellings, erection of a rear dormer, alterations to the roof, and the provision of four off-street car parking spaces).
1, Holly Close, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 6HT
Received 15 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0956/26
Variation of Condition 2 Plan numbers of EPF/0166/24 (Proposed part demolition of existing & erection of a new rear, front & roof extension, with internal remodelling & associated landscaping (Resubmission of previously approved scheme EPF/0934/20)).
14 Broadstrood, Loughton, IG10 2SB
Received 15 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0957/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition 6: Arboricultural Method Statement of EPF/0446/25 (Demolition of existing single storey garden room. Erection of new garden room with basement and outdoor LED screen).
Verviers, 30 Tomswood Road, Chigwell, IG7 5QS
Received 15 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0958/26
New self-build dwelling house with solar panels, cycle storage, bin storage etc.
Land adjacent to 20 Pinnacles , Waltham Abbey EN9 1TG
Received 15 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0959/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition 17: Disposal of Waste Material of EPF/1974/22 (The construction and operation of a solar photovoltaic (‘PV’) farm and associated infrastructure, including inverters, DNO substation, customer switchgear, security cameras, fencing, access tracks and landscaping).
Land Adjacent to Harlow Road, Near Roydon, Harlow
Received 15 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0960/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition No. 28: Soil Management Plan of EPF/1974/22 (The construction and operation of a solar photovoltaic (‘PV’) farm and associated infrastructure, including inverters, DNO substation, customer switchgear, security cameras, fencing, access tracks and landscaping).
Land Adjacent to Harlow Road, Near Roydon, Harlow
Received 15 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0961/26
The proposal complies with the permitted development guidance as set out on the planning portal website, within as Class A Development, on the terms of “The Town and Country Planning“(General Permitted Development): The enlargement, improvement or other alteration of a dwellinghouse. The relevant guidance for this proposal is set out below: 1. Existing house is not a listed building and is not in a conservation area 2. The proposal is for a single storey rear extension to an existing end of terraced dwelling. 3. The total ground covered by buildings within the curtilage of the dwelling house does not exceed 50% of the total area of the curtilage. 4. The proposed extension does not extend beyond the rear wall of the original building by more than 3.0m, and does not exceed 4.0m in height. 5. The eaves height within 2.0m of the site boundary is less than 3.0m high 6. The proposed materials are of similar appearance to those of the existing dwelling house.
4, Paternoster Close, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3JX
Received 15 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0965/26
Proposed outbuilding.
Ash Barn, Chelsmford Road, High Ongar, CM5 9NX
Received 18 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0966/26
Replacement front entrance porch, renewal of flat roof to existing rear extension. Flat roof extended to replace existing conservatory roof. Proposed glazing changes to rear ground floor elevation, Proposed window with obscure glazing to side elevation facing No 23.
25, Tower Road, Epping, CM16 5EL
Received 18 May 2026 - Under ConsultationEPF/0963/26
Residential development comprising 9 dwellings with associated access, parking, landscaping, biodiversity enhancements and amenity space.
94-108 , London Road, Lambourne, RM4 1UX
Received 18 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0972/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition No. 6: Construction Risk Assessment of EPF/2574/25 (Extension to the building, roof top plant, drainage and ancillary works/infrastructure).
Spencer Close, The Plain, Epping, CM16 6TN
Received 18 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0962/26
Certificate of lawful development for a B8 Existing Use of storage and distribution yard of scaffolding equipment and building materials in continuous use on site in excess of 10 years.
Demolition Yard, Pick Hill, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3LE
Received 18 May 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/0964/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition No. 3: External Finishes of EPF/2052/22 (Proposed 1 no. 3 storey and 1 no. 2 storey buildings to accommodate x 5 residential units (4, 1bed units and 1, 2 bed unit) with communal open space, landscaping and associated works).
287, High Street, Epping, CM16 4DA
Received 18 May 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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