What type of planning application is most likely to be approved in Barnet?

Basement at 83.5% based on 2,575 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Barnet?

HMO at 44.4% based on 581 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Barnet?

From 83.5% (Basement) to 44.4% (HMO). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Barnet

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Barnet is 39.1% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

53,415 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Basement	2,575	2,149	426	83.5%
2	Extension (General)	1,244	1,029	215	82.7%
3	Garage / Parking	10,560	8,718	1,842	82.6%
4	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	3,471	2,856	615	82.3%
5	Side Extension	6,503	5,321	1,182	81.8%
6	New Build	1,933	1,581	352	81.8%
7	Conservatory	1,489	1,218	271	81.8%
8	Dormer	9,213	7,482	1,731	81.2%
9	Loft Conversion	8,125	6,574	1,551	80.9%
10	Wraparound Extension	2,881	2,316	565	80.4%
11	Front Extension	1,766	1,394	372	78.9%
12	Outbuilding	3,104	2,441	663	78.6%
13	Flat Conversion	4,171	3,185	986	76.4%
14	Rear Extension	17,196	13,051	4,145	75.9%
15	Annex	205	148	57	72.2%
16	Change of Use (Residential)	1,973	1,373	600	69.6%
17	HMO	581	258	323	44.4%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A basement application has a 83.5% approval rate. HMO? Just 44.4%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 44.4% to 83.5%. Choosing the right project type — or framing your application correctly — can dramatically affect outcomes.

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.

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.

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More Barnet planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 53,415 decisions in Barnet 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 Barnet Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →