What type of planning application is most likely to be approved in Bristol?

Wraparound Extension at 94.0% based on 434 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Bristol?

New Build at 72.4% based on 733 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Bristol?

From 94.0% (Wraparound Extension) to 72.4% (New Build). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Bristol

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Bristol is 21.6% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

25,848 real decisions·17 project types·Updated August 2026

Check Planning Approval Patterns in Bristol

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

Check My Postcode

All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Wraparound Extension	434	408	26	94.0%
2	Conservatory	575	530	45	92.2%
3	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	671	612	59	91.2%
4	Rear Extension	5,697	5,169	528	90.7%
5	Dormer	2,654	2,408	246	90.7%
6	Basement	634	574	60	90.5%
7	Outbuilding	849	755	94	88.9%
8	Loft Conversion	2,760	2,442	318	88.5%
9	Extension (General)	2,014	1,779	235	88.3%
10	Side Extension	2,317	2,036	281	87.9%
11	Garage / Parking	3,019	2,557	462	84.7%
12	Front Extension	198	160	38	80.8%
13	Change of Use (Residential)	1,850	1,474	376	79.7%
14	Annex	308	236	72	76.6%
15	HMO	862	652	210	75.6%
16	Flat Conversion	246	181	65	73.6%
17	New Build	733	531	202	72.4%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 94.0% approval rate. New Build? Just 72.4%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

Check My Postcode

What the data tells us

The range is massive: 72.4% to 94.0%. 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

3,371 planning applications in Bristol 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.

Check my postcode

Free · Property report emailed in minutes · Based on 3,780,000+ real decisions

More Bristol planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 25,848 decisions in Bristol 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 Bristol Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to August 2026. Full methodology →