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Most Common Planning Applications in Cheltenham

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Cheltenham is 14.0% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

8,376 real decisions·17 project types·Updated September 2026
99.2%
Safest: Conservatory
85.2%
Lowest: HMO
14.0%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Conservatory4934894
99.2%
2Rear Extension2,5272,47651
98.0%
3Wraparound Extension2892827
97.6%
4Side Extension1,3721,32943
96.9%
5Front Extension2292218
96.5%
6Extension (General)1,2781,23147
96.3%
7Basement34933613
96.3%
8Dormer58356122
96.2%
9Outbuilding58656323
96.1%
10Hip-to-Gable Conversion101974
96.0%
11Garage / Parking1,9101,83080
95.8%
12Change of Use (Residential)50948029
94.3%
13Loft Conversion41638630
92.8%
14Annex13812711
92.0%
15Flat Conversion30273
90.0%
16New Build38033248
87.4%
17HMO27234
85.2%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 99.2% approval rate. HMO? Just 85.2%.
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: 85.2% to 99.2%. 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

386 planning applications in Cheltenham 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 Cheltenham planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 8,376 decisions in Cheltenham 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 Cheltenham Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to September 2026. Full methodology →
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