Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,780,000+ 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 3.1% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

10,621 real decisions·10 project types·Updated August 2026
100.0%
Safest: Rear Extension
96.9%
Lowest: Outbuilding
3.1%
Spread
10
Types ranked

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All 10 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Rear Extension48480
100.0%
2Flat Conversion20200
100.0%
3Dormer53530
100.0%
4Loft Conversion1771761
99.4%
5Extension (General)4374334
99.1%
6Basement99598510
99.0%
7Garage / Parking3953896
98.5%
8Change of Use (Residential)94192615
98.4%
9New Build2072034
98.1%
10Outbuilding65632
96.9%
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 96.9%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 96.9% 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

127 planning applications in City of London 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 London planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 10,621 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 August 2026. Full methodology →
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