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

Conservatory at 90.6% based on 533 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Bexley?

HMO at 64.5% based on 287 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Bexley?

From 90.6% (Conservatory) to 64.5% (HMO). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Bexley

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Bexley is 26.1% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

21,260 real decisions·17 project types·Updated June 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	533	483	50	90.6%
2	Basement	151	132	19	87.4%
3	Front Extension	1,122	972	150	86.6%
4	Garage / Parking	5,016	4,325	691	86.2%
5	Side Extension	3,812	3,280	532	86.0%
6	Outbuilding	995	852	143	85.6%
7	Extension (General)	1,731	1,479	252	85.4%
8	Wraparound Extension	2,027	1,719	308	84.8%
9	Flat Conversion	321	269	52	83.8%
10	Rear Extension	8,118	6,721	1,397	82.8%
11	New Build	1,507	1,247	260	82.7%
12	Annex	140	114	26	81.4%
13	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	1,121	900	221	80.3%
14	Dormer	2,739	2,185	554	79.8%
15	Change of Use (Residential)	1,298	1,032	266	79.5%
16	Loft Conversion	350	272	78	77.7%
17	HMO	287	185	102	64.5%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 90.6% approval rate. HMO? Just 64.5%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 64.5% to 90.6%. 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

3,190 planning applications in Bexley 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 Bexley planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 21,260 decisions in Bexley 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 Bexley Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →