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

Most Common Planning Applications in Darlington

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Darlington is 11.5% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

2,301 real decisions·12 project types·Updated March 2026
97.1%
Safest: Loft Conversion
85.6%
Lowest: Change of Use (Residential)
11.5%
Spread
12
Types ranked

Check Planning Approval Patterns in Darlington

See your ward's approval rate and nearby planning decisions — free and instant.

Check My Postcode

All 12 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Loft Conversion35341
97.1%
2Garage / Parking53051020
96.2%
3Outbuilding1551496
96.1%
4Conservatory1241195
96.0%
5Rear Extension44342221
95.3%
6Side Extension1471407
95.2%
7Annex21201
95.2%
8Wraparound Extension42402
95.2%
9Extension (General)30528916
94.8%
10Dormer1111056
94.6%
11New Build26324320
92.4%
12Change of Use (Residential)13911920
85.6%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A loft conversion application has a 97.1% approval rate. Change of Use (Residential)? Just 85.6%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

Check My Postcode

What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 85.6% to 97.1%. 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

193 planning applications in Darlington 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.

Check My Postcode First
Free instant check · Pro Report £79 · Based on 2,500,000+ real decisions

More Darlington planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 2,301 decisions in Darlington 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 Darlington Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
Check planning approval patterns in Darlington — Free