What type of planning application is most likely to be approved in Blackburn with Darwen?

Conservatory at 92.7% based on 314 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Blackburn with Darwen?

HMO at 55.2% based on 29 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Blackburn with Darwen?

From 92.7% (Conservatory) to 55.2% (HMO). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Blackburn with Darwen

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Blackburn with Darwen is 37.5% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

12,714 real decisions·17 project types·Updated June 2026

Check Planning Approval Patterns in Blackburn with Darwen

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	314	291	23	92.7%
2	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	72	66	6	91.7%
3	Rear Extension	2,200	1,987	213	90.3%
4	Annex	88	79	9	89.8%
5	Garage / Parking	1,414	1,259	155	89.0%
6	Outbuilding	287	255	32	88.9%
7	Side Extension	1,073	949	124	88.4%
8	Front Extension	159	140	19	88.1%
9	Extension (General)	1,931	1,697	234	87.9%
10	Basement	103	90	13	87.4%
11	Wraparound Extension	221	190	31	86.0%
12	Loft Conversion	64	54	10	84.4%
13	New Build	458	386	72	84.3%
14	Dormer	571	470	101	82.3%
15	Change of Use (Residential)	1,090	856	234	78.5%
16	Flat Conversion	102	73	29	71.6%
17	HMO	29	16	13	55.2%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 92.7% approval rate. HMO? Just 55.2%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 55.2% to 92.7%. 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

1,391 planning applications in Blackburn with Darwen 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 Blackburn with Darwen planning data

Methodology: Classifies 12,714 decisions in Blackburn with Darwen 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 Blackburn with Darwen Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →