Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,290,000+ 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 23.8% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

15,049 real decisions·16 project types·Updated June 2026
98.8%
Safest: Conservatory
75.0%
Lowest: HMO
23.8%
Spread
16
Types ranked

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All 16 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Conservatory2582553
98.8%
2Wraparound Extension1471452
98.6%
3Rear Extension1,5151,48134
97.8%
4Side Extension87585025
97.1%
5Front Extension2592518
96.9%
6Annex1241195
96.0%
7Outbuilding56253923
95.9%
8Garage / Parking1,9621,87884
95.7%
9Dormer30128813
95.7%
10Extension (General)1,4251,36362
95.6%
11Loft Conversion1571489
94.3%
12Basement31292
93.5%
13New Build61354964
89.6%
14Change of Use (Residential)1,136989147
87.1%
15Flat Conversion21174
81.0%
16HMO22416856
75.0%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 98.8% approval rate. HMO? Just 75.0%.
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: 75.0% to 98.8%. 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

763 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 15,049 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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