Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,780,000+ decisions analysed across England

Rear Extension Approval Rates in Bradford

Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 6,297 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in Bradford.

6,297 real decisions·January 2020 to August 2026·Updated August 2026
87.8%
Approval Rate
6,297
Decisions
5,528
Approved
769
Refused
87.8% approved. But 769 refused since 2020. Each refusal cost the homeowner time and money on drawings and application fees. Understanding your local data before you apply is the difference between confidence and a costly gamble.

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Why rear extension approval rates matter

Rear extensions sit in the middle of the pack nationally. They're common enough that councils have clear precedent — but that cuts both ways. If your neighbours have been refused, that precedent works against you too.

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

Two houses on the same street can get different outcomes.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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How rear extensions compare to other project types

Not all applications are treated equally. Here's how rear extensions stack up against other common projects in Bradford.

TypeDecisionsRate
Hip-to-Gable Conversion1,094
90.1%
Loft Conversion910
89.6%
Rear Extension6,297
87.8%
Dormer3,726
87.3%
Conservatory557
87.1%
Wraparound Extension889
85.4%
Side Extension3,332
85.0%
Extension (General)2,027
84.2%
Garage / Parking3,138
79.8%
Flat Conversion85
78.8%
Front Extension424
77.8%
Basement377
77.2%
Outbuilding936
77.1%
Annex277
76.2%
Change of Use (Residential)1,644
75.5%
HMO151
73.5%
New Build149
73.2%
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What the data tells us

1
87.8% of rear extension applications in Bradford get approved. That means 769 homeowners since 2020 have been refused. Not terrible odds, but not a foregone conclusion.
3
Council averages are starting points, not guarantees. The decisions that matter most are the comparable ones near your specific property — because planning officers look at precedent, character and the immediate context of your street.

Before you spend £5,000+ on architects and drawings

769 rear extension applications in Bradford 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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Free · Property report emailed in minutes · Based on 3,780,000+ real decisions

More Bradford planning data

Nearby councils rear extension data

Methodology: Based on 6,297 planning decisions classified as rear extensions in Bradford, January 2020 to August 2026. Classification uses keyword matching against proposal descriptions (matching generate_site_data.py rules). A single application may appear in multiple categories. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid applications excluded. Data from Bradford Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →
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