Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,290,000+ 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 12.1% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

3,194 real decisions·14 project types·Updated June 2026
97.8%
Safest: Loft Conversion
85.7%
Lowest: HMO
12.1%
Spread
14
Types ranked

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All 14 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Loft Conversion46451
97.8%
2Annex31301
96.8%
3Outbuilding1931867
96.4%
4Garage / Parking67565025
96.3%
5Wraparound Extension50482
96.0%
6Dormer1471416
95.9%
7Rear Extension53751324
95.5%
8Side Extension1751678
95.4%
9Conservatory1651578
95.2%
10Basement21201
95.2%
11Extension (General)39137120
94.9%
12New Build32830721
93.6%
13Change of Use (Residential)18816226
86.2%
14HMO35305
85.7%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A loft conversion application has a 97.8% approval rate. HMO? Just 85.7%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 85.7% to 97.8%. 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

241 planning applications in Darlington 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 Darlington planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 3,194 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 →
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