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

Rear Extension Approval Rates in Dartford

Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 1,944 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in Dartford.

1,944 real decisions·January 2020 to present·Updated March 2026
89.1%
Approval Rate
1,944
Decisions
1,733
Approved
211
Refused
89.1% approved. But 211 refused since 2020. Each refusal cost the homeowner time and money on drawings and application fees. Understanding your local data before you apply is the difference between confidence and a costly gamble.

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Why rear extension approval rates matter

Rear extensions sit in the middle of the pack nationally. They're common enough that councils have clear precedent — but that cuts both ways. If your neighbours have been refused, that precedent works against you too.

Ward gap in Dartford: Joydens Wood approves 100.0% of rear extension applications while Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone & Hawley sits at 80.0%. That 20.0% gap means your postcode is one of the strongest indicators of outcome.

Rear Extension approval rate by ward

#WardDecisionsApprovedRate
1Joydens Wood55
100.0%
2Longfield, New Barn & Southfleet76
85.7%
3Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone & Hawley54
80.0%
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These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A rear extension has a 100.0% approval rate in Joydens Wood but just 80.0% in Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone & Hawley.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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How rear extensions compare to other project types

Not all applications are treated equally. Here's how rear extensions stack up against other common projects in Dartford.

TypeDecisionsRate
Conservatory335
94.0%
Hip-to-Gable Conversion113
92.9%
Wraparound Extension86
91.9%
Outbuilding461
91.1%
Side Extension958
90.5%
Extension (General)217
90.3%
Rear Extension1,944
89.1%
Dormer818
88.3%
Garage / Parking1,750
88.2%
Front Extension227
87.7%
New Build671
86.7%
Loft Conversion195
86.7%
Annex97
86.6%
Basement91
84.6%
HMO58
77.6%
Change of Use (Residential)397
75.8%
Flat Conversion30
70.0%
See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

1
89.1% of rear extension applications in Dartford get approved. That means 211 homeowners since 2020 have been refused. Not terrible odds, but not a foregone conclusion.
2
Your ward matters more than you think. The 20.0% gap between Joydens Wood (100.0%) and Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone & Hawley (80.0%) means your postcode is one of the strongest indicators of outcome.
3
Council averages are starting points, not guarantees. The decisions that matter most are the comparable ones near your specific property — because planning officers look at precedent, character and the immediate context of your street.

Before you spend £5,000+ on architects and drawings

211 rear extension applications in Dartford 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 Dartford planning data

Nearby councils rear extension data

Methodology: Based on 1,944 planning decisions classified as rear extensions in Dartford, January 2020 to present. Classification uses keyword matching against proposal descriptions (matching generate_site_data.py rules). A single application may appear in multiple categories. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid applications excluded. Data from Dartford Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →
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