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

Conservatory at 90.5% based on 550 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Bexley?

HMO at 65.0% based on 286 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Bexley?

From 90.5% (Conservatory) to 65.0% (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 25.5% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

21,547 real decisions·17 project types·Updated August 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	550	498	52	90.5%
2	Basement	151	132	19	87.4%
3	Front Extension	1,126	975	151	86.6%
4	Garage / Parking	5,086	4,394	692	86.4%
5	Side Extension	3,871	3,341	530	86.3%
6	Outbuilding	1,013	870	143	85.9%
7	Extension (General)	1,746	1,493	253	85.5%
8	Wraparound Extension	2,028	1,722	306	84.9%
9	Flat Conversion	325	272	53	83.7%
10	Rear Extension	8,212	6,813	1,399	83.0%
11	New Build	1,518	1,259	259	82.9%
12	Annex	143	116	27	81.1%
13	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	1,124	903	221	80.3%
14	Dormer	2,761	2,209	552	80.0%
15	Change of Use (Residential)	1,306	1,045	261	80.0%
16	Loft Conversion	364	285	79	78.3%
17	HMO	286	186	100	65.0%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 90.5% approval rate. HMO? Just 65.0%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 65.0% to 90.5%. 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.

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

3,188 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 21,547 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 August 2026. Full methodology →