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

Conservatory at 91.0% based on 499 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Bexley?

HMO at 65.8% based on 266 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Bexley?

From 91.0% (Conservatory) to 65.8% (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 25.2% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

20,572 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	499	454	45	91.0%
2	Basement	150	130	20	86.7%
3	Garage / Parking	4,914	4,238	676	86.2%
4	Front Extension	1,091	939	152	86.1%
5	Side Extension	3,719	3,195	524	85.9%
6	Outbuilding	964	827	137	85.8%
7	Extension (General)	1,677	1,431	246	85.3%
8	Wraparound Extension	1,989	1,683	306	84.6%
9	Flat Conversion	316	266	50	84.2%
10	New Build	1,489	1,233	256	82.8%
11	Rear Extension	7,902	6,527	1,375	82.6%
12	Annex	135	111	24	82.2%
13	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	1,096	881	215	80.4%
14	Change of Use (Residential)	1,264	1,014	250	80.2%
15	Dormer	2,678	2,134	544	79.7%
16	Loft Conversion	326	252	74	77.3%
17	HMO	266	175	91	65.8%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 91.0% approval rate. HMO? Just 65.8%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 65.8% to 91.0%. 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

3,099 planning applications in Bexley have been refused since 2020. Many of those homeowners had already paid for drawings and application fees. A £79 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 20,572 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 →