Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,780,000+ decisions analysed across England

Most Common Planning Applications in Dorset

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Dorset is 13.8% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

25,048 real decisions·16 project types·Updated August 2026
97.0%
Safest: Conservatory
83.2%
Lowest: New Build
13.8%
Spread
16
Types ranked

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All 16 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Conservatory70268121
97.0%
2Front Extension28727512
95.8%
3Wraparound Extension1421366
95.8%
4Extension (General)1,9491,838111
94.3%
5Side Extension1,1191,05366
94.1%
6Loft Conversion30528718
94.1%
7Rear Extension2,0471,916131
93.6%
8Dormer84177764
92.4%
9Outbuilding1,1981,10197
91.9%
10Garage / Parking3,2272,946281
91.3%
11Hip-to-Gable Conversion23212
91.3%
12Flat Conversion32293
90.6%
13Annex43538649
88.7%
14Basement58517
87.9%
15Change of Use (Residential)1,123943180
84.0%
16New Build51142586
83.2%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 97.0% approval rate. New Build? Just 83.2%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 83.2% to 97.0%. 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

1,794 planning applications in Dorset 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 Dorset planning data

Methodology: Classifies 25,048 decisions in Dorset 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 Dorset Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to August 2026. Full methodology →
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