Planning Permission in Fareham
Non-Metropolitan District in South East · Last updated April 2026
Fareham is a borough on the south Hampshire coast between Portsmouth and Southampton, covering the market town of Fareham and surrounding settlements including Portchester, Titchfield, and Stubbington. The borough contains 13 conservation areas and 435 listed buildings, with heritage highlights including Portchester Castle (one of Europe's best-preserved Roman forts) and the medieval village of Titchfield.
Fareham has an exceptional 98.6% planning approval rate — one of the highest in England — demonstrating a highly efficient and supportive approach to development management. Despite this, housing delivery at 55% triggers the presumption in favour of sustainable development.
The Solent Recreation Mitigation Partnership and Solent Waders and Brent Geese requirements add ecological considerations to residential development across the borough.
Planning a project in Fareham? Start here.
Enter your address to check your permitted development rights, conservation area status, and Article 4 restrictions specific to Fareham.
Free check — no account required
What can I build in Fareham?
| Project type | Likely permitted development | May need planning permission | Likely needs planning permission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rear extension (single storey) | Most of Fareham outside protected zones | Properties near boundaries | Conservation areas (13), listed buildings |
| Rear extension (two storey) | Most of Fareham outside protected zones, if within 3m limit | Check distance to boundary ≥7m | Conservation areas (13), listed buildings |
| Side extension | Detached houses outside protected zones | Semi-detached properties (half-width rule) | Conservation areas (13), listed buildings |
| Loft conversion (dormer) | Houses outside conservation areas | Properties on prominent corners | Conservation areas, listed buildings, flats |
| Loft conversion (Velux/rooflight) | Most of Fareham | Front-facing rooflights in conservation areas | Listed buildings |
| Outbuilding / garden office | Most of Fareham outside protected zones, if within size/height limits | Large outbuildings covering >50% of garden | Conservation areas (side or front), listed buildings |
| Porch | Most properties if within 3m² and 3m height | Properties near highway boundary | Conservation areas with restrictions, listed buildings |
| Solar panels | Most properties (roof-mounted) | Panels protruding beyond roofline | Listed buildings, conservation areas (if visible from road) |
| Driveway / hard standing | If using permeable surfacing | Non-permeable surfacing over 5m² | Conservation areas with specific restrictions |
| Garage conversion | Most of Fareham (internal works) | If changing external appearance significantly | Listed buildings |
This is general guidance based on Fareham's planning constraints. Your specific property may differ — use our free PD checker to get a result tailored to your address.
Permitted development in Fareham
Fareham's permitted development framework is shaped by 13 conservation areas covering the historic cores of Fareham, Portchester, and Titchfield. While no Article 4 directions are in force, the conservation areas restrict PD rights for extensions and external alterations. The Solent ecological designations require mitigation contributions for new residential development. Outside conservation areas, standard PD rights apply to the suburban residential areas.
What Fareham expects from your project
Local Plan: Fareham Borough Local Plan 2037
Fareham Borough adopted its Local Plan in May 2023. The plan provides for around 7,100 new homes including the Welborne new community (a 6,000-home garden community north of Fareham), which represents one of the most significant new settlements in southern England. Fareham is part of the Solent sub-region.
Emerging / replacement plan
The Fareham Local Plan 2037 was recently adopted. The council will monitor delivery, particularly the progress of Welborne garden community.
19 Article 4 directions
Fareham has applied Article 4 directions to 19 areas, which remove certain permitted development rights in those zones. Use our free checker to see if your property is affected.
98.6% approval rate
Fareham approves 98.6% of planning applications, above the national average of 86.9%. Well-designed residential applications in this area tend to have a good chance of success.
Conservation areas in Fareham
13 designated conservation areas
Fareham's 13 conservation areas protect historic town and village centres with distinctive characters. Portchester conservation area encompasses the remarkable Roman-Norman castle and medieval village. Titchfield has a medieval street plan with timber-framed buildings. Fareham town centre retains Georgian and Victorian commercial character. The council expects proposals to respect the specific heritage qualities of each area.
Article 4 directions in Fareham
19 Article 4 direction areas
Listed buildings in Fareham
There are 435 listed buildings in Fareham. If your property is listed, permitted development rights are significantly restricted. Most external and many internal alterations will require listed building consent, which is separate from planning permission. Always check with Fareham's conservation team before starting any work on a listed property.
Planning application statistics
Year ending September 2025 | Source: MHCLG planning application statistics
Fareham received 646 planning applications and decided 638 in the year ending September 2025. The approval rate of 98.6% is above the national average of 86.9%. Major applications are expected to be decided within 13 weeks, while householder and other non-major applications have an 8-week target. The “in time” figures include decisions made within agreed extensions of time.
Fareham approved an exceptional 98.6% of applications in the year ending September 2025 — one of the highest rates in England — with a 94.2% delegation rate. All major applications and 99.5% of minor applications were decided on time. Householder applications achieved 99.8% on-time. The council processed 638 decisions from 646 applications, including 429 householder. Housing delivery at 55% triggers the NPPF presumption in favour of sustainable development.
If your project complies with permitted development rules, you don't need to worry about approval rates — a Lawful Development Certificate is a factual assessment, not a judgment call.
Recent planning applications in Fareham
Browse what's been approved near you
Seeing what similar projects have been approved near your property can help you understand what Fareham expects in terms of scale, materials, and design. It's also useful for gauging how quickly the council processes applications.
Search planning applications on Fareham's portal →Data from MHCLG planning application register. Search for householder applications (H01/H02) to see extensions and loft conversions in your area.
Housing delivery in Fareham
Housing Delivery Test 2023 measurement | Source: MHCLG
Fareham delivered 421 homes against a requirement of 762 over the three-year measurement period, giving a Housing Delivery Test score of 55%. This is well below the 75% threshold, which triggers the most significant consequence: the “presumption in favour of sustainable development” (also called the “tilted balance”). This means planning applications for housing should be approved unless the harm would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits. For homeowners, this is a strong signal — Fareham is under considerable pressure to approve housing, making it one of the more favourable environments for residential planning applications in England.
Lawful Development Certificates in Fareham
A Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) is formal confirmation from Fareham that your project is lawful under permitted development rules. It is not legally required before you build, but it is the only official document that proves your project did not need planning permission. Most solicitors will ask for one when you come to sell, remortgage, or insure your property.
Fareham decided 429 householder applications in the year ending september 2025. Their 8-week performance of 99.8% is above the national average of 93%, which suggests LDC applications are likely to be processed on time. LDC applications follow the same 8-week statutory determination period as householder planning applications.
How to apply for an LDC in Fareham
You can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate through the Planning Portal or directly through Fareham's website. You will need to submit:
- A completed application form (available on the Planning Portal)
- A site location plan at 1:1250 or 1:2500 scale
- Existing and proposed floor plans and elevations
- A written description of the proposed works and how they comply with the GPDO 2015
- The application fee of £258
Fareham must issue a decision within 8 weeks. If the application is approved, the certificate is a permanent legal record that the development is lawful. If refused, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate or amend your project and reapply.
Need help preparing your LDC application?
Our Permitted Development Certificate Report gives you a full PD eligibility assessment, property constraints check, and application checklist tailored to your address and project — so you can apply with confidence.
Check your permitted development rights
Find out instantly whether your project in Fareham needs planning permission.
FROM £39Permitted Development Certificate Report
Get a comprehensive report for your Lawful Development Certificate application.
£49Fareham Local Authority Report
Approval rates, decision patterns, Article 4 directions, fees & timelines, and council-specific tips for Fareham.
Pre-application advice in Fareham
Fareham offers a pre-application advice service. The fee for householder pre-app advice is From £60 for householder proposals.
Pre-app advice is worth paying for if your project is borderline, your property is in a conservation area, or your home is a listed building.
Think your project might be permitted development?
Check in 2 minutes with our free tool — no sign-up needed.
Check your PD rights now →Pre-application advice for householder and commercial developments within the Fareham Borough area.
Planning fees and timelines in Fareham
| Application type | Fee | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Householder planning application | £528 | 8 weeks |
| Full planning permission | £610 per dwelling | 8-13 weeks |
| Lawful Development Certificate (proposed) | £264 | 6-8 weeks |
| Lawful Development Certificate (existing) | £298 | 6-8 weeks |
| Listed building consent | Free | 8 weeks |
| Prior approval | £120 | 56 days |
| Discharge of conditions | £145 per request | 8 weeks |
| Non-material amendment | £44 | 28 days |
Fees are set nationally and correct as of April 2026. Pre-application fees are set by Fareham and may change. Building regulations fees are separate — see the building control section below.
Building regulations in Fareham
Building regulations approval is separate from planning permission. Most extensions, loft conversions, and structural alterations need building regs approval even if they don't need planning permission.
Building control in Fareham is provided by Fareham Building Control. You can also use a private approved inspector instead of the council's service.
Building control contact
Fareham planning department
Your building project checklist for Fareham
- Check if your property is in a conservation area — Fareham has 13 conservation areas. Use our free checker or see the list above.
- Check for Article 4 directions at your address — Fareham has 19 Article 4 areas. Check your address.
- Check if your property is listed — search the Historic England list.
- Use our free PD checker to see if your project qualifies as permitted development — Check now.
- Consider a Lawful Development Certificate if PD applies — it protects you when selling. Learn more about LDCs or get your PD Certificate Report.
- Consider pre-application advice if planning permission is needed — see the pre-application section above.
- Check building regulations — most extensions and loft conversions need building regs approval even if they don't need planning permission.
- Check Party Wall Act obligations if building near a boundary — read our Party Wall guide or use our free Party Wall tool.
- Notify your home insurer about planned building work.
- Get at least 3 quotes from builders and check their credentials.
Nearby planning authorities
Stay informed about planning in Fareham
Approval rate updates, Article 4 changes, and local planning tips — straight to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.