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Most Common Planning Applications in Chelmsford

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Chelmsford is 27.4% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

505 real decisions·10 project types·Updated March 2026
96.6%
Safest: Front Extension
69.2%
Lowest: Change of Use (Residential)
27.4%
Spread
10
Types ranked

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All 10 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Front Extension29281
96.6%
2Conservatory25241
96.0%
3New Build20182
90.0%
4Dormer37334
89.2%
5Outbuilding37334
89.2%
6Extension (General)23203
87.0%
7Rear Extension11810216
86.4%
8Garage / Parking968214
85.4%
9Side Extension796613
83.5%
10Change of Use (Residential)26188
69.2%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A front extension application has a 96.6% approval rate. Change of Use (Residential)? Just 69.2%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 69.2% to 96.6%. 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

72 planning applications in Chelmsford 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 Chelmsford planning data

Methodology: Classifies 505 decisions in Chelmsford 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 Chelmsford Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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