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

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 12.1% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

13,600 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026
99.2%
Safest: Conservatory
87.1%
Lowest: New Build
12.1%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Conservatory4734694
99.2%
2Rear Extension2,3992,35148
98.0%
3Wraparound Extension2742686
97.8%
4Side Extension1,3091,26841
96.9%
5Basement33332211
96.7%
6Front Extension2232158
96.4%
7Extension (General)1,2241,17747
96.2%
8Dormer56854622
96.1%
9Outbuilding55052822
96.0%
10Hip-to-Gable Conversion98944
95.9%
11Garage / Parking1,8111,73477
95.7%
12Change of Use (Residential)48345726
94.6%
13Loft Conversion40437430
92.6%
14Annex13011911
91.5%
15Flat Conversion28253
89.3%
16HMO24213
87.5%
17New Build36331647
87.1%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 99.2% approval rate. New Build? Just 87.1%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 87.1% 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

553 planning applications in Cheltenham 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 Cheltenham planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 13,600 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 present. Full methodology →
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