Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,820,000+ decisions analysed across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Most Common Planning Applications in East Lothian

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

570 real decisions·6 project types·Updated September 2026
Safest: Extension (General)
Lowest: Dormer
Spread
6
Types ranked

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All 6 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Extension (General)166
2Outbuilding40
3New Build20
4Change of Use (Residential)49
5Garage / Parking47
6Dormer27
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A extension (general) application has a – approval rate. Dormer? Just –.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: – to –. 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

– planning applications in East Lothian 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 East Lothian planning data

Methodology: Classifies 570 decisions in East Lothian 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 East Lothian Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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