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

Most Common Planning Applications in City of London

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in City of London is 3.3% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

9,789 real decisions·10 project types·Updated March 2026
100.0%
Safest: Rear Extension
96.7%
Lowest: Outbuilding
3.3%
Spread
10
Types ranked

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All 10 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Rear Extension46460
100.0%
2Flat Conversion20200
100.0%
3Dormer51510
100.0%
4Loft Conversion1741731
99.4%
5Extension (General)4204164
99.0%
6Basement95894810
99.0%
7Change of Use (Residential)91089515
98.4%
8Garage / Parking3703646
98.4%
9New Build2011974
98.0%
10Outbuilding61592
96.7%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A rear extension application has a 100.0% approval rate. Outbuilding? Just 96.7%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 96.7% 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

124 planning applications in City of London 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 City of London planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 9,789 decisions in City of London 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 London Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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