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

Rear Extension Approval Rates in Brighton & Hove

Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 506 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in Brighton & Hove.

506 real decisions·January 2020 to present·Updated March 2026
93.7%
Approval Rate
506
Decisions
474
Approved
32
Refused
93.7% approved. But 32 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.

Check Planning Approval Patterns in Brighton & Hove

See your ward's approval rate and nearby planning decisions — free and instant.

Check My Postcode

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.

Rear Extension approval rate by ward

#WardDecisionsApprovedRate
1Rottingdean & West Saltdean66
100.0%
See how this applies to your postcode →

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.

Check My Postcode

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 Brighton & Hove.

TypeDecisionsRate
Hip-to-Gable Conversion124
96.0%
Outbuilding91
95.6%
Loft Conversion186
95.2%
Side Extension155
94.2%
Conservatory65
93.8%
Rear Extension506
93.7%
Wraparound Extension31
93.5%
Dormer379
92.9%
Extension (General)175
90.9%
Garage / Parking308
88.6%
Front Extension47
85.1%
Annex20
85.0%
Basement85
84.7%
HMO84
82.1%
Change of Use (Residential)165
74.5%
New Build86
74.4%
Flat Conversion33
72.7%
See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

1
93.7% of rear extension applications in Brighton & Hove get approved. That means 32 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

32 rear extension 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.

Check My Postcode First
Free instant check · Pro Report £79 · Based on 2,500,000+ real decisions

More Brighton & Hove planning data

Nearby councils rear extension data

Methodology: Based on 506 planning decisions classified as rear extensions in Brighton & Hove, January 2020 to present. 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 Brighton & Hove Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →
Check planning approval patterns in Brighton & Hove — Free