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

Most Common Planning Applications in Brighton & Hove

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Brighton & Hove is 23.3% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

3,163 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026
96.0%
Safest: Hip-to-Gable Conversion
72.7%
Lowest: Flat Conversion
23.3%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Hip-to-Gable Conversion1241195
96.0%
2Outbuilding91874
95.6%
3Loft Conversion1861779
95.2%
4Side Extension1551469
94.2%
5Conservatory65614
93.8%
6Rear Extension50647432
93.7%
7Wraparound Extension31292
93.5%
8Dormer37935227
92.9%
9Extension (General)17515916
90.9%
10Garage / Parking30827335
88.6%
11Front Extension47407
85.1%
12Annex20173
85.0%
13Basement857213
84.7%
14HMO846915
82.1%
15Change of Use (Residential)16512342
74.5%
16New Build866422
74.4%
17Flat Conversion33249
72.7%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A hip-to-gable conversion application has a 96.0% approval rate. Flat Conversion? Just 72.7%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 72.7% to 96.0%. 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

324 planning applications in Brighton & Hove 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 Brighton & Hove planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 3,163 decisions in Brighton & Hove 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 Brighton & Hove Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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