Data-backed planning intelligence · 2,650,000+ decisions analysed across England

Most Common Planning Applications in City of Edinburgh

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in City of Edinburgh is 26.8% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

34,504 real decisions·16 project types·Updated May 2026
96.7%
Safest: Wraparound Extension
69.9%
Lowest: Change of Use (Residential)
26.8%
Spread
16
Types ranked

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All 16 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Wraparound Extension1201164
96.7%
2Rear Extension1,6301,55872
95.6%
3Side Extension75771839
94.8%
4Conservatory1,1601,10060
94.8%
5Extension (General)4,7354,483252
94.7%
6Loft Conversion43740631
92.9%
7Front Extension84786
92.9%
8Outbuilding1,2101,12288
92.7%
9Basement85379063
92.6%
10Dormer2,0431,886157
92.3%
11Garage / Parking3,3203,006314
90.5%
12Flat Conversion61547
88.5%
13Annex1008713
87.0%
14HMO1089315
86.1%
15New Build49641185
82.9%
16Change of Use (Residential)2,6471,850797
69.9%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 96.7% approval rate. Change of Use (Residential)? Just 69.9%.
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: 69.9% to 96.7%. 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

3,521 planning applications in City of Edinburgh 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 City of Edinburgh planning data

Methodology: Classifies 34,504 decisions in City of Edinburgh 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 City of Edinburgh Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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