Data-backed planning intelligence · 2,500,000+ 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 16.2% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

8,267 real decisions·13 project types·Updated March 2026
98.8%
Safest: Front Extension
82.6%
Lowest: New Build
16.2%
Spread
13
Types ranked

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All 13 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Front Extension86851
98.8%
2Conservatory2312274
98.3%
3Loft Conversion100964
96.0%
4Side Extension36334617
95.3%
5Wraparound Extension52493
94.2%
6Rear Extension70866642
94.1%
7Dormer28727017
94.1%
8Extension (General)57753641
92.9%
9Outbuilding42238834
91.9%
10Garage / Parking1,03594491
91.2%
11Annex14713017
88.4%
12Change of Use (Residential)37831464
83.1%
13New Build14411925
82.6%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A front extension application has a 98.8% approval rate. New Build? Just 82.6%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 82.6% to 98.8%. 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

632 planning applications in Dorset 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 Dorset planning data

Methodology: Classifies 8,267 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 present. Full methodology →
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