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 dates59,892Searchable applications
395Recorded as pending
80%Approval rate · 51,637 approved or refused records
10,417Refused applications
41,220 approved · 10,417 refused · 3,122 withdrawn.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 Counts reflect the last collected status; some records may be out of date.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/1490/26
Prior Approval for Change of use from Commercial to residential to provide 5 new residential units.
Unit 21 Rear, Fyfield Business and Research Park, Fyfield Road, Ongar, CM5 0FQ
Received 4 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1492/26
Safeguarding improvements comprising replacement and upgrading of sections of existing boundary fencing, installation of higher fencing in selected locations and minor earthworks to regrade a grass embankment and remove an informal footpath.
Moreton Church Of England Primary School, Church Road, Moreton, Ongar, CM5 0JD
Received 4 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1493/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition 7 of EPF/1313/25 Allowed on Appeal (Construction of a new two storey dwelling with second floor accommodation in the roof, a detached double garage, a new replacement external rear swimming pool and associated site works, following demolition of existing dwelling and outbuildings).
High Beech Hall, Church Road, Waltham Abbey, IG10 4AJ
Received 4 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1494/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition 4 Surface Water Drainage of EPF/0783/26 (Part single and part double storey rear and front extension, single storey side extension and loft conversion including raising roof ridge).
29, Chigwell Rise, Chigwell, IG7 6AQ
Received 4 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1495/26
Proposed single storey rear extension, a small side extension at first floor, partial garage conversion, a front bay and porch extension, a new front door position and other minor external changes to the building.
68, Theydon Park Road, Theydon Bois, Epping, CM16 7LP
Received 4 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1496/26
Proposed single storey rear extension, rear patio and front extension.
56, Hilltop, Loughton, IG10 1PX
Received 4 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1497/26
Certificate of Lawful Development for proposed single storey side and rear extensions and detached garden room.
The Lotos, Foster Street, North Weald Bassett, Harlow, CM17 9HX
Received 5 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1498/26
Single-storey side extension including garage.
24, Western Avenue, Epping, CM16 4JS
Received 5 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1499/26
Non- Material Amendment to EPF/2636/23 (Proposed two storey rear extension, alterations to front elevation including front porch. Internal and external alterations).
18, Fairfield Road, Epping, CM16 6SU
Received 5 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1500/26
Variation of Condition 2 Plan Numbers of EPF/1209/26 (no 3 bedroom houses in total, in a terrace configuration).
69, Church Hill, Loughton, IG10 1QP
Received 5 Aug 2026 - Under ConsultationEPF/1501/26
Change of use of first and second floor including renovation of front façade and rear extension to create maisonette over existing commercial unit.
166, High Street, Epping, CM16 4AQ
Received 5 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1502/26
Conversion of existing garage into habitable room, with basement level lightwell, roof dormers and removal of chimney.
15, Fernside, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 5TY
Received 5 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1503/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition 6 Construction Management Plan of EPF/2207/16 (Outline application (all matters reserved, except approval sought for the detail of access) for Health Centre building; 60 Independent Living Older Persons Apartment Building (Use Class C2 – with minimum of 6 hours care to be provided per week for each apartment) minimum 40% affordable; Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool Building (to include Fitness Suite and Community Hall); Open Space mini soccer grass pitch for use by under 7/8 year old and footpaths; Ancillary development including three vehicle accesses off Hillhouse, car parking, and SUDs Infrastructure and demolition of Ninefields Community Centre Building).
Playing Field Hillhouse , Waltham Abbey, EN9 3EH
Received 5 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1505/26
Certificate of Lawful Development for proposed loft conversion with rear dormer and front roof lights.
22, Northdene, Chigwell, IG7 5JT
Received 5 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1504/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Conditions 15 and 16 Contaminated Land of EPF/2207/16 (Outline application (all matters reserved, except approval sought for the detail of access) for Health Centre building; 60 Independent Living Older Persons Apartment Building (Use Class C2 – with minimum of 6 hours care to be provided per week for each apartment) minimum 40% affordable; Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool Building (to include Fitness Suite and Community Hall); Open Space mini soccer grass pitch for use by under 7/8 year old and footpaths; Ancillary development including three vehicle accesses off Hillhouse, car parking, and SUDs Infrastructure and demolition of Ninefields Community Centre Building).
Playing Field, Hillhouse, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3EH
Received 5 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1506/26
Erection of single storey ground floor rear extension 6.00 x 3.00 x 3.00.
22, Northdene, Chigwell, IG7 5JT
Received 5 Aug 2026 - Under ConsultationEPF/1507/26
Installation of New Kitchen Extraction System & Single-storey Rear Extension.
50, Pyrles Lane, Loughton, IG10 2NN
Received 5 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1508/26
Variation of Condition 2 Plan Numbers of EPF/0975/26 (Improve the existing bungalow through internal reconfiguration, a rear infill extension, garage conversion, and minor external alterations).
68, Highland Road, Nazeing, Waltham Abbey, EN9 2PX
Received 6 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1512/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition 17 Biodiversity Enhancement Strategy of EPF/0250/26 (Erection of a detached self-build dwellinghouse to Plot 3 in place of a detached dwellinghouse approved under EPF/0675/25, EPF/0679/24, EPF/1713/16 and EPF/2934/21 respectively).
Fairmead Plots 3, Church Road, Loughton, IG10 4AJ
Received 6 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1509/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Conditions 5 and 22 Foul and Surface Water Drainage of EPF/0834/22 (The development of three family dwellings on the site of the previously consented scheme at 19 Lambourne Road. The proposal is comprised of three 4-bedroom dwellings, similar in height, materials & style to the neighbouring buildings).
19, Globe Cottage, Lambourne Road, Chigwell, IG7 6HA
Received 6 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1510/26
Alteration of existing roof to a raised, primary gable end roof. Proposed chalet bungalow to provide loft accommodation, rear extension, rear flat roof dormer, new openings and rooflights and an inset balcony.
5, Firs Drive, Loughton, IG10 2SL
Received 6 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1511/26
Roydon Conservation Area T1: Apple - Crown reduce by up to 3m. T2: Cherry - Crown reduce by up to 2.5m.
154, Roydon Green Cottage, High Street, Roydon, Harlow, CM19 5EF
Received 6 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1514/26
Removal of the existing single storey rear extensions with a two-storey rear wrap around extension, single-storey side extension and loft conversion with dormer.
1, Baldocks Road, Theydon Bois, Epping, CM16 7EB
Received 6 Aug 2026 - Decision MadeEPF/1513/26
Approval of Details Reserved by Condition 6 Making Good of EPF/1042/21 (Grade II Listed building consent for the redevelopment of the existing office building and car park. Demolition of the existing office building and alterations to connection to existing Listed Civic Centre. Development to comprise new apartment buildings and houses to provide a mix of residential units (Use Class C3), revised vehicular and pedestrian access from High Street, all associated car and cycle parking, servicing, hard and soft landscaping and associated works).
323 Civic Offices, Epping Forest District Council, High Street, Epping, CM16 4BZ
Received 6 Aug 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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