Birmingham planning approval rate

Birmingham council approved 83.8% of planning applications and refused 16.2%, based on 33,111 decisions analysed. Ranked 31st out of 221 councils for strictness.

Last updated: March 2026 · Based on decisions from January 2020 to present

83.8%

overall approval rate

33,111

Decisions analysed

27,759

Approved

5,352

Refused

Wards covered

Planning in Birmingham? Check your postcode to see approval rates specific to your ward and street.

Approval rate by application type

Different application types have different approval rates in Birmingham. Householder and full planning applications typically have the highest volume.

Other (33,111 decided)

83.8%

Approval rate by project type

These rates are based on what homeowners are actually building in Birmingham — mined from 33,111 proposal descriptions.

Rear Extension (13,248 decided)

87.2%

Side Extension (5,640 decided)

87.1%

New Build (3,721 decided)

83.2%

Dormer (2,363 decided)

76.1%

Change of Use (Residential) (1,863 decided)

55.1%

Wraparound Extension (1,842 decided)

87.8%

Garage / Parking (1,578 decided)

79.7%

Front Extension (1,556 decided)

85.3%

HMO (1,002 decided)

60.0%

Loft Conversion (791 decided)

74.1%

Outbuilding (757 decided)

86.0%

Extension (General) (650 decided)

80.8%

Hip-to-Gable Conversion (330 decided)

63.6%

Flat Conversion (297 decided)

52.2%

Conservatory (166 decided)

88.0%

Basement (127 decided)

79.5%

Annex (91 decided)

69.2%

Approval rate by ward

Planning outcomes vary significantly by ward within Birmingham. Click any ward for detailed statistics.

Wards in Birmingham

Recent comparable decisions

The most recent residential planning decisions in Birmingham, showing how the council decides real applications.

2026/01015/PA

Erection of 8 metre deep single storey rear extension. Maximum height 3.45 metre · ·

Approved

2026/00977/PA

Erection of 6 metre deep single storey rear extension. Maximum height 3.5 metres · ·

Approved

2026/00382/PA

Application for a Lawful Development Certificate for a proposed loft conversion · ·

Approved

Showing 3 of 200 comparable decisions. See all 200 in the Pro Report →

What gets approved near your property?

In Birmingham, 1 in 6 applications are refused. Your PlanningLens Pro Report gives you 17 pages of intelligence specific to your property:

✓ Ward-level approval rates for your exact area
✓ Common refusal reasons in Birmingham
✓ Your 10 nearest comparable planning decisions
✓ Appeal success rates
✓ PDF report to share with your architect

Get Birmingham Pro Report — £79

Less than one set of revised drawings. Based on 33,111 decisions.

Compare with nearby councils

Solihull Lichfield Warwick Bromsgrove & Redditch

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