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

Basement at 83.2% based on 2,613 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Barnet?

HMO at 43.9% based on 619 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Barnet?

From 83.2% (Basement) to 43.9% (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 39.3% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

54,846 real decisions·17 project types·Updated June 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Basement	2,613	2,175	438	83.2%
2	Garage / Parking	10,782	8,886	1,896	82.4%
3	Extension (General)	1,278	1,051	227	82.2%
4	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	3,522	2,892	630	82.1%
5	New Build	1,964	1,606	358	81.8%
6	Side Extension	6,697	5,465	1,232	81.6%
7	Conservatory	1,523	1,238	285	81.3%
8	Dormer	9,394	7,617	1,777	81.1%
9	Loft Conversion	8,299	6,703	1,596	80.8%
10	Wraparound Extension	2,938	2,356	582	80.2%
11	Front Extension	1,813	1,430	383	78.9%
12	Outbuilding	3,194	2,503	691	78.4%
13	Flat Conversion	4,214	3,213	1,001	76.2%
14	Rear Extension	17,627	13,354	4,273	75.8%
15	Annex	205	146	59	71.2%
16	Change of Use (Residential)	2,026	1,400	626	69.1%
17	HMO	619	272	347	43.9%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A basement application has a 83.2% approval rate. HMO? Just 43.9%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 43.9% to 83.2%. 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.

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

10,043 planning applications in Barnet have been refused since 2020. Many of those homeowners had already paid for drawings and application fees. A free, property-specific report shows you what gets approved — and what gets refused — near your property.

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More Barnet planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 54,846 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 →