Data-backed planning intelligence · 2,500,000+ decisions analysed across England

Most Common Planning Applications in Birmingham

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Birmingham is 35.8% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

33,111 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026
88.0%
Safest: Conservatory
52.2%
Lowest: Flat Conversion
35.8%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Conservatory16614620
88.0%
2Wraparound Extension1,8421,617225
87.8%
3Rear Extension13,24811,5471,701
87.2%
4Side Extension5,6404,911729
87.1%
5Outbuilding757651106
86.0%
6Front Extension1,5561,328228
85.3%
7New Build3,7213,095626
83.2%
8Extension (General)650525125
80.8%
9Garage / Parking1,5781,258320
79.7%
10Basement12710126
79.5%
11Dormer2,3631,798565
76.1%
12Loft Conversion791586205
74.1%
13Annex916328
69.2%
14Hip-to-Gable Conversion330210120
63.6%
15HMO1,002601401
60.0%
16Change of Use (Residential)1,8631,026837
55.1%
17Flat Conversion297155142
52.2%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 88.0% approval rate. Flat Conversion? Just 52.2%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 52.2% to 88.0%. Choosing the right project type — or framing your application correctly — can dramatically affect outcomes.
2
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.
3
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

5,352 planning applications in Birmingham 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 Birmingham planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 33,111 decisions in Birmingham 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 Birmingham Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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