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Most Common Planning Applications in Elmbridge

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Elmbridge is 18.5% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

73,568 real decisions·17 project types·Updated August 2026
90.3%
Safest: HMO
71.8%
Lowest: Change of Use (Residential)
18.5%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1HMO62566
90.3%
2Conservatory5,2684,671597
88.7%
3New Build24221131
87.2%
4Front Extension4,7874,011776
83.8%
5Rear Extension24,69520,6564,039
83.6%
6Wraparound Extension1,3571,125232
82.9%
7Side Extension15,93213,1952,737
82.8%
8Extension (General)1,9951,621374
81.3%
9Annex24019446
80.8%
10Hip-to-Gable Conversion1,9411,556385
80.2%
11Dormer10,5928,2302,362
77.7%
12Outbuilding3,1482,413735
76.7%
13Loft Conversion4,2463,253993
76.6%
14Garage / Parking16,24112,3803,861
76.2%
15Flat Conversion1208931
74.2%
16Basement1,4371,045392
72.7%
17Change of Use (Residential)1,8891,356533
71.8%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A hmo application has a 90.3% approval rate. Change of Use (Residential)? Just 71.8%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 71.8% to 90.3%. 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

15,915 planning applications in Elmbridge 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 Elmbridge planning data

Methodology: Classifies 73,568 decisions in Elmbridge 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 Elmbridge Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to August 2026. Full methodology →
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