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

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 24.8% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

14,377 real decisions·16 project types·Updated March 2026
99.6%
Safest: Conservatory
74.8%
Lowest: HMO
24.8%
Spread
16
Types ranked

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All 16 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Conservatory2382371
99.6%
2Wraparound Extension1401382
98.6%
3Rear Extension1,4511,41932
97.8%
4Side Extension83080525
97.0%
5Front Extension2492418
96.8%
6Outbuilding53051020
96.2%
7Annex1231185
95.9%
8Garage / Parking1,8911,80982
95.7%
9Extension (General)1,3831,32360
95.7%
10Dormer29328013
95.6%
11Loft Conversion1511429
94.0%
12Basement30282
93.3%
13New Build59053060
89.8%
14Change of Use (Residential)1,096955141
87.1%
15Flat Conversion20164
80.0%
16HMO21816355
74.8%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 99.6% approval rate. HMO? Just 74.8%.
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: 74.8% to 99.6%. 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

720 planning applications in County Durham 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 County Durham planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 14,377 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 present. Full methodology →
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