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 dates59,547Searchable applications
411Recorded as pending
80%Approval rate · 51,321 approved or refused records
10,358Refused applications
40,963 approved · 10,358 refused · 3,109 withdrawn. Received dates in our records: 29 Jan 1996 to 29 Oct 2026. Most recent record check: 2 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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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/1319/26
Prior approval for change of use of first and second floors from office to residential to form one flat, ground floor to remain commercial.
159 Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 5BA
Received 6 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1320/26
Non-Material Amendment to EPF/1356/24 (Residential development of 36 dwellings including affordable housing, access from Stanford Rivers Road, associated estate roads, parking, open space and enhanced landscaping). Amendment sought: Replace the approved roof over the garage within plot 1 it with a gable-fronted roof.
Land Between Stanford Rivers Road and Brentwood Road, Ongar, Essex
Received 6 Jul 2026 - Under ConsultationEPF/1321/26
Demolition of existing farmhouse and construct a single storey 2 bedroom dwellinghouse with detached garaging. (Majority of site within Brentwood Borough Council area).
Lodge Farm Albyns lane Navestock Romford RM4 1HR
Received 6 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1322/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition 4 Surface Water Drainage of EPF/1581/23 (Single storey extension to garage at front of property and a change of ridge height to front hipped roof. Double storey extension to the rear of the property along with re-configuration of internal layout. Landscaping of garden and addition of garden room and gazebo. Addition of air source heat pumps to main residence, along with solar panels to roofs falling under permitted development).
16, Hillcrest Road, Loughton, IG10 4QQ
Received 6 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1323/26
Extension of the northern boundary to Plots 2, 3 and 4 permitted under planning consent EPF/0016/19.
Gypsy Mead Works, Ongar Road, Fyfield, Ongar, CM5 0RB
Received 6 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1324/26
TPO/EPF/18/88 (Ref: A1) T1: Lime - Selective prune of branches overhanging roof by up to 1.5m, as specified. NB: The permitted specification of works is detailed in the conditions below.
5, Raymond Gardens, Chigwell, IG7 6EW
Received 6 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1327/26
Demolition of the existing dwelling and associated structures, and erection of a replacement self-build sustainable dwelling with an ancillary outbuilding.
20, Piercing Hill, Theydon Bois, Epping, CM16 7JW
Received 6 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1325/26
Conversion of garage into habitable room, erection of front porch, Replacement doors and windows.
239, The Barn, Lambourne Road, Chigwell
Received 6 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1326/26
Extension at first floor, comprising one new dormer and two extended existing dormers to the front and a new dormer to the rear.
22, Hill Road, Theydon Bois, Epping, CM16 7LX
Received 6 Jul 2026 - Under ConsultationEPF/1328/26
Change of use to erect a new Use Class B8 development comprising 3 new-build blocks for Storage and Light Distribution.
Providence Nursery, Avey Lane, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3QH
Received 6 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1329/26
Single storey rear extension and change of use of garage into habitable room.
125, The Lindens, Loughton, IG10 3HU
Received 6 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1330/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition 6 Construction Method Statement of EPF/1330/24 Allowed on Appeal (Installation of hardstanding for use of land immediately to the east of Meadgate Works for a mix of Class B2 (general industrial) and Class B8 (storage and distribution) use with associated hard and soft landscaping; new planting and other soft landscaping on land immediately to the north of Meadgate Works; and the provision a new north–south pedestrian / bicycle route to the east of the North Lagoon).
Meadgate Works, Meadgate Road, Nazeing, Waltham Abbey, EN9 2PD
Received 6 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1332/26
Proposed first floor rear extension, facade alternation, internal alterations and all associated works. (Revision to EPF/0520/26).
26, Gladstone Road, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 5SW
Received 7 Jul 2026 - Under ConsultationEPF/1331/26
Erection of a single-storey rear extension together with a part single-storey side extension.
24, Margherita Place, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3TT
Received 7 Jul 2026 - Under ConsultationEPF/1333/26
Installation of a new window to side elevation.
24, Margherita Place, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3TT
Received 7 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1334/26
Replacement of the White PVC cladding and White spandrel panels, with a Grey Non-combustible A1 cladding and Grey Non-combustible spandrel panels.
Block A, The Bowls, Vicarage Lane, Chigwell, IG7 6ND
Received 7 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1335/26
Demolition of existing rear conservatory and construction of single-storey rear ground floor extension with flat roof design.
5, Brooklyn Avenue, Loughton, IG10 1BJ
Received 7 Jul 2026 - Under ConsultationEPF/1336/26
Outline planning application (with all matters reserved except for vehicular access) for the erection of up to 200 dwellings (Use Class C3), a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG), public open space, landscaping, sustainable drainage infrastructure, vehicular access to Upshire Road and associated infrastructure.
Land South of Upshire Road, Waltham Abbey
Received 7 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1337/26
Proposed garage conversion to office use
12 Great Stony Park, High Street, Ongar, CM5 0TH
Received 8 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1338/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition No. 3: Structural Method Statement of EPF/2553/25 (Erection of rear extensions at ground and first floor level, along with excavation of basement, and roof alterations including removal of chimney).
8, Summerfield Road, Loughton, IG10 4JF
Received 8 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1339/26
Partial demolition of existing dwellinghouse. Construction of extensions at side and rear, continuing the established roof form. (Revision to EPF/0685/26).
12, Barnaby Way, Chigwell, IG7 6NZ
Received 8 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1340/26
Certificate of Lawful Development for proposed loft conversion incorporating the construction of a rear dormer roof extension and the installation of two rooflights to the front roof slope.
27, Burney Drive, Loughton, IG10 2DX
Received 8 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1341/26
Proposed single storey rear extension.
25, Albion Park, Loughton, IG10 4RB
Received 8 Jul 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1342/26
Grade II Listed Building Consent for replacement sashes and upgrade of four windows to east and west.
Saint Albans Church Hall, Coopersale Common, Coopersale, Epping, CM16 7QT
Received 8 Jul 2026
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