Chichester District Council receives 86 swimming pool applications since 2021
New figures show that Chichester District Council has received 86 planning applications for residential swimming pools since 2021, with 79 of them approved.
The numbers were obtained through an Environmental Information Regulations request by Stoneworld.
Applications were highest in 2021, when the council received 25 submissions and approved 24 of them. There were then 12 applications in 2022, followed by 20 in 2023, 11 in 2024, 11 in 2025 and seven so far in 2026.
The figures show that applications have fallen from their 2021 peak, despite the UK experiencing its hottest summer on record this year.
Ellie Parker, a natural stone expert at Stoneworld, said: “The number of applications recorded in Chichester shows that residential swimming pools are not confined to a handful of exceptional projects.
“For some homeowners, they are becoming part of a broader investment in how they use their property during warmer months.
“Anyone considering a pool needs to think about the water itself. The surface around it will affect how the area performs in wet conditions, how comfortable it is to move around safely, and how well the finished design works day to day.”
She also highlighted the importance of considering materials, drainage, access and the position of the pool at an early stage of the design process.