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

Basement at 83.0% based on 2,664 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Barnet?

HMO at 43.8% based on 641 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Barnet?

From 83.0% (Basement) to 43.8% (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 39.2% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

46,965 real decisions·17 project types·Updated September 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Basement	2,664	2,211	453	83.0%
2	Garage / Parking	11,021	9,069	1,952	82.3%
3	Extension (General)	1,299	1,068	231	82.2%
4	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	3,600	2,944	656	81.8%
5	New Build	1,986	1,623	363	81.7%
6	Side Extension	6,858	5,591	1,267	81.5%
7	Conservatory	1,568	1,274	294	81.2%
8	Dormer	9,608	7,783	1,825	81.0%
9	Loft Conversion	8,503	6,862	1,641	80.7%
10	Wraparound Extension	3,030	2,427	603	80.1%
11	Front Extension	1,871	1,472	399	78.7%
12	Outbuilding	3,301	2,573	728	77.9%
13	Flat Conversion	4,270	3,250	1,020	76.1%
14	Rear Extension	18,068	13,668	4,400	75.6%
15	Annex	211	152	59	72.0%
16	Change of Use (Residential)	2,064	1,419	645	68.8%
17	HMO	641	281	360	43.8%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A basement application has a 83.0% approval rate. HMO? Just 43.8%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 43.8% to 83.0%. 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

9,590 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 46,965 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 September 2026. Full methodology →