Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,290,000+ decisions analysed across England

Most Common Planning Applications in Bolton

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Bolton is 50.5% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

4,630 real decisions·14 project types·Updated June 2026
91.5%
Safest: Conservatory
41.0%
Lowest: HMO
50.5%
Spread
14
Types ranked

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All 14 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Conservatory16515114
91.5%
2Garage / Parking39333558
85.2%
3Rear Extension30525748
84.3%
4Wraparound Extension36306
83.3%
5Extension (General)967791176
81.8%
6Side Extension19415737
80.9%
7New Build25420549
80.7%
8Flat Conversion24195
79.2%
9Dormer16312934
79.1%
10Front Extension564214
75.0%
11Outbuilding554114
74.5%
12Loft Conversion28208
71.4%
13Change of Use (Residential)27118784
69.0%
14HMO612536
41.0%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 91.5% approval rate. HMO? Just 41.0%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 41.0% to 91.5%. 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

663 planning applications in Bolton 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 Bolton planning data

Methodology: Classifies 4,630 decisions in Bolton 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 Bolton Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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