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Most Common Planning Applications in Aberdeen

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Aberdeen is 14.7% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

21,448 real decisions·16 project types·Updated March 2026
97.7%
Safest: Conservatory
83.0%
Lowest: Flat Conversion
14.7%
Spread
16
Types ranked

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All 16 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Conservatory3483408
97.7%
2Side Extension1791736
96.6%
3Rear Extension70167526
96.3%
4Extension (General)4,3614,187174
96.0%
5Front Extension21201
95.2%
6Loft Conversion77734
94.8%
7Outbuilding52249329
94.4%
8Dormer1,3501,27080
94.1%
9Wraparound Extension27252
92.6%
10Garage / Parking2,6792,443236
91.2%
11Change of Use (Residential)1,8171,628189
89.6%
12Annex60537
88.3%
13Basement17415321
87.9%
14HMO12310815
87.8%
15New Build1,075919156
85.5%
16Flat Conversion47398
83.0%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 97.7% approval rate. Flat Conversion? Just 83.0%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 83.0% to 97.7%. Choosing the right project type — or framing your application correctly — can dramatically affect outcomes.
2
Visibility drives scrutiny. Project types that change the external appearance — dormers, loft conversions, hip-to-gable — face more resistance than those that don't. The more visible your proposal, the more carefully it needs designing.
3
These are council-wide averages. Your ward, your street and your immediate neighbours all shift the odds. The comparable decisions near your property are the best indicator of outcome.

Before you spend £5,000+ on architects and drawings

1,231 planning applications in Aberdeen have been refused since 2020. Many of those homeowners had already paid for drawings and application fees. A £79 report shows you what gets approved — and what gets refused — near your property.

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More Aberdeen planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 21,448 decisions in Aberdeen into residential project types using keyword matching against proposal descriptions (matching generate_site_data.py subtype rules). A single application may appear in multiple categories. Data from Aberdeen Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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