Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,290,000+ decisions analysed across England

Most Common Planning Applications in Cornwall

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Cornwall is 15.7% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

23,536 real decisions·16 project types·Updated June 2026
98.4%
Safest: Wraparound Extension
82.7%
Lowest: New Build
15.7%
Spread
16
Types ranked

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All 16 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Wraparound Extension63621
98.4%
2Side Extension60159011
98.2%
3Conservatory55654313
97.7%
4Basement1101073
97.3%
5Rear Extension1,1131,08132
97.1%
6Dormer63060723
96.3%
7Extension (General)3,8553,703152
96.1%
8Annex76072436
95.3%
9Outbuilding1,3541,27975
94.5%
10Garage / Parking3,5823,361221
93.8%
11Loft Conversion42039327
93.6%
12HMO59554
93.2%
13Front Extension1171098
93.2%
14Flat Conversion57534
93.0%
15Change of Use (Residential)1,5981,472126
92.1%
16New Build927767160
82.7%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 98.4% approval rate. New Build? Just 82.7%.
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: 82.7% to 98.4%. 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

1,642 planning applications in Cornwall 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 Cornwall planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 23,536 decisions in Cornwall 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 Cornwall Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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