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

New Build at 95.4% based on 1,032 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Ealing?

HMO at 69.6% based on 520 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Ealing?

From 95.4% (New Build) to 69.6% (HMO). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Ealing

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Ealing is 25.8% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

67,567 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	New Build	1,032	985	47	95.4%
2	Basement	3,359	3,010	349	89.6%
3	Extension (General)	2,532	2,258	274	89.2%
4	Garage / Parking	12,842	11,352	1,490	88.4%
5	Conservatory	1,707	1,488	219	87.2%
6	Loft Conversion	12,650	10,916	1,734	86.3%
7	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	4,239	3,640	599	85.9%
8	Wraparound Extension	1,676	1,408	268	84.0%
9	Rear Extension	22,565	18,748	3,817	83.1%
10	Dormer	2,117	1,758	359	83.0%
11	Side Extension	7,960	6,610	1,350	83.0%
12	Outbuilding	4,281	3,498	783	81.7%
13	Change of Use (Residential)	3,506	2,852	654	81.3%
14	Flat Conversion	3,775	3,054	721	80.9%
15	Annex	255	203	52	79.6%
16	Front Extension	1,823	1,407	416	77.2%
17	HMO	520	362	158	69.6%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A new build application has a 95.4% approval rate. HMO? Just 69.6%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 69.6% to 95.4%. 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

9,449 planning applications in Ealing 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 Ealing planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 67,567 decisions in Ealing 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 Ealing Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →