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

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 21.4% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

24,529 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026
94.1%
Safest: Wraparound Extension
72.7%
Lowest: New Build
21.4%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Wraparound Extension42139625
94.1%
2Conservatory55451341
92.6%
3Hip-to-Gable Conversion64558956
91.3%
4Rear Extension5,5015,000501
90.9%
5Dormer2,5532,318235
90.8%
6Basement60854860
90.1%
7Outbuilding80371291
88.7%
8Loft Conversion2,6612,357304
88.6%
9Extension (General)1,9441,717227
88.3%
10Side Extension2,2471,979268
88.1%
11Garage / Parking2,8922,454438
84.9%
12Front Extension18915435
81.5%
13Change of Use (Residential)1,7551,404351
80.0%
14Annex28922366
77.2%
15HMO805609196
75.7%
16Flat Conversion24017565
72.9%
17New Build711517194
72.7%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 94.1% approval rate. New Build? Just 72.7%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 72.7% to 94.1%. 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

3,225 planning applications in Bristol 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 Bristol planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 24,529 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 present. Full methodology →
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