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

Most Common Planning Applications in Cambridge

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Cambridge is 24.0% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

8,530 real decisions·16 project types·Updated August 2026
100.0%
Safest: Hip-to-Gable Conversion
76.0%
Lowest: HMO
24.0%
Spread
16
Types ranked

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All 16 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Hip-to-Gable Conversion47470
100.0%
2Conservatory2212165
97.7%
3Basement80782
97.5%
4Wraparound Extension25624511
95.7%
5Outbuilding52650323
95.6%
6Dormer39537718
95.4%
7Rear Extension1,4811,40873
95.1%
8Side Extension84880246
94.6%
9Front Extension31929920
93.7%
10Garage / Parking1,1111,03180
92.8%
11Extension (General)36033129
91.9%
12Loft Conversion36433331
91.5%
13Annex14613214
90.4%
14New Build31226547
84.9%
15Change of Use (Residential)33025773
77.9%
16HMO503812
76.0%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A hip-to-gable conversion application has a 100.0% approval rate. HMO? Just 76.0%.
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: 76.0% to 100.0%. 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

593 planning applications in Cambridge 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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More Cambridge planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 8,530 decisions in Cambridge 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 Cambridge Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to August 2026. Full methodology →
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