What type of planning application is most likely to be approved in Dover?

Basement at 96.8% based on 63 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Dover?

Flat Conversion at 72.3% based on 47 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Dover?

From 96.8% (Basement) to 72.3% (Flat Conversion). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Dover

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Dover is 24.5% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

6,755 real decisions·16 project types·Updated March 2026

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All 16 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Basement	63	61	2	96.8%
2	Conservatory	232	222	10	95.7%
3	Front Extension	114	109	5	95.6%
4	Wraparound Extension	69	65	4	94.2%
5	Side Extension	526	491	35	93.3%
6	Rear Extension	890	826	64	92.8%
7	Outbuilding	1,133	1,050	83	92.7%
8	Dormer	268	246	22	91.8%
9	Loft Conversion	156	142	14	91.0%
10	Annex	127	115	12	90.6%
11	Garage / Parking	1,229	1,104	125	89.8%
12	Extension (General)	214	190	24	88.8%
13	New Build	701	621	80	88.6%
14	HMO	24	21	3	87.5%
15	Change of Use (Residential)	521	440	81	84.5%
16	Flat Conversion	47	34	13	72.3%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A basement application has a 96.8% approval rate. Flat Conversion? Just 72.3%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 72.3% to 96.8%. Choosing the right project type — or framing your application correctly — can dramatically affect outcomes.

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.

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

461 planning applications in Dover 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 Dover planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 6,755 decisions in Dover 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 Dover Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →