Data-backed planning intelligence · 2,500,000+ 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 40.0% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

5,770 real decisions·16 project types·Updated March 2026
100.0%
Safest: Hip-to-Gable Conversion
60.0%
Lowest: HMO
40.0%
Spread
16
Types ranked

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All 16 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Hip-to-Gable Conversion25250
100.0%
2Conservatory1351305
96.3%
3Basement48462
95.8%
4Outbuilding34432123
93.3%
5Rear Extension1,04497272
93.1%
6Dormer26124318
93.1%
7Wraparound Extension15814711
93.0%
8Side Extension55651046
91.7%
9Front Extension23721720
91.6%
10Garage / Parking73665878
89.4%
11Extension (General)27224329
89.3%
12Loft Conversion24921831
87.6%
13Annex1079314
86.9%
14New Build22117447
78.7%
15Change of Use (Residential)22816167
70.6%
16HMO301812
60.0%
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 60.0%.
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: 60.0% 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

552 planning applications in Cambridge 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 Cambridge planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 5,770 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 present. Full methodology →
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