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Most Common Planning Applications in County Durham

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in County Durham is 24.4% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

9,303 real decisions·16 project types·Updated September 2026
98.9%
Safest: Conservatory
74.5%
Lowest: HMO
24.4%
Spread
16
Types ranked

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All 16 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Conservatory2652623
98.9%
2Wraparound Extension1541522
98.7%
3Rear Extension1,5821,54636
97.7%
4Side Extension91088426
97.1%
5Front Extension2692618
97.0%
6Dormer31430113
95.9%
7Outbuilding59156625
95.8%
8Garage / Parking2,0451,95788
95.7%
9Extension (General)1,4641,39965
95.6%
10Annex1281226
95.3%
11Loft Conversion1681599
94.6%
12Basement37352
94.6%
13New Build63456767
89.4%
14Change of Use (Residential)1,1841,030154
87.0%
15Flat Conversion23185
78.3%
16HMO23917861
74.5%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 98.9% approval rate. HMO? Just 74.5%.
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: 74.5% to 98.9%. 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

562 planning applications in County Durham 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 County Durham planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 9,303 decisions in County Durham 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 County Durham Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to September 2026. Full methodology →
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