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Most Common Planning Applications in Croydon

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Croydon is 32.0% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

31,361 real decisions·17 project types·Updated October 2026
84.9%
Safest: Conservatory
52.9%
Lowest: HMO
32.0%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Conservatory65755899
84.9%
2Extension (General)1,8641,524340
81.8%
3Rear Extension10,9118,8862,025
81.4%
4Front Extension1,103886217
80.3%
5Side Extension5,3694,3041,065
80.2%
6Basement1,7911,434357
80.1%
7Dormer5,1724,1171,055
79.6%
8New Build5,3574,2151,142
78.7%
9Garage / Parking10,7478,4452,302
78.6%
10Wraparound Extension1,067837230
78.4%
11Hip-to-Gable Conversion1,3701,061309
77.4%
12Loft Conversion2,7712,122649
76.6%
13Outbuilding1,5951,205390
75.5%
14Annex21615759
72.7%
15Change of Use (Residential)1,9211,194727
62.2%
16Flat Conversion697369328
52.9%
17HMO799423376
52.9%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 84.9% approval rate. HMO? Just 52.9%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 52.9% to 84.9%. 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

6,128 planning applications in Croydon 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 Croydon planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 31,361 decisions in Croydon 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 Croydon Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to October 2026. Full methodology →
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