Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,290,000+ decisions analysed across England

Rear Extension Approval Rates in Enfield

Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 9,799 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in Enfield.

9,799 real decisions·January 2020 to present·Updated June 2026
79.0%
Approval Rate
9,799
Decisions
7,746
Approved
2,053
Refused
79.0% approved. But 2,053 refused since 2020. Each refusal cost the homeowner time and money on drawings and application fees. Understanding your local data before you apply is the difference between confidence and a costly gamble.

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Why rear extension approval rates matter

Rear extensions sit in the middle of the pack nationally. They're common enough that councils have clear precedent — but that cuts both ways. If your neighbours have been refused, that precedent works against you too.

Ward gap in Enfield: Oakwood approves 100.0% of rear extension applications while Whitewebbs sits at 57.1%. That 42.9% gap means your postcode is one of the strongest indicators of outcome.

Rear Extension approval rate by ward

#WardDecisionsApprovedRate
1Oakwood55
100.0%
2Southgate66
100.0%
3Bullsmoor98
88.9%
4Jubilee54
80.0%
5Haselbury54
80.0%
6Whitewebbs74
57.1%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A rear extension has a 100.0% approval rate in Oakwood but just 57.1% in Whitewebbs.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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How rear extensions compare to other project types

Not all applications are treated equally. Here's how rear extensions stack up against other common projects in Enfield.

TypeDecisionsRate
Extension (General)1,865
83.4%
Conservatory271
81.2%
New Build1,457
79.6%
Garage / Parking5,706
79.5%
Dormer5,343
79.4%
Rear Extension9,799
79.0%
Outbuilding1,565
78.5%
Basement811
78.1%
Front Extension590
75.6%
Wraparound Extension729
75.4%
Side Extension3,149
74.8%
Flat Conversion3,330
73.7%
Change of Use (Residential)2,204
72.0%
Loft Conversion485
70.9%
Hip-to-Gable Conversion175
69.7%
Annex186
69.4%
HMO1,061
68.6%
See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

1
79.0% of rear extension applications in Enfield get approved. That means 2,053 homeowners since 2020 have been refused. Not terrible odds, but not a foregone conclusion.
2
Your ward matters more than you think. The 42.9% gap between Oakwood (100.0%) and Whitewebbs (57.1%) means your postcode is one of the strongest indicators of outcome.
3
Council averages are starting points, not guarantees. The decisions that matter most are the comparable ones near your specific property — because planning officers look at precedent, character and the immediate context of your street.

Before you spend £5,000+ on architects and drawings

2,053 rear extension applications in Enfield 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 Enfield planning data

Nearby councils rear extension data

Methodology: Based on 9,799 planning decisions classified as rear extensions in Enfield, January 2020 to present. Classification uses keyword matching against proposal descriptions (matching generate_site_data.py rules). A single application may appear in multiple categories. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid applications excluded. Data from Enfield Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →
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