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

Conservatory at 92.6% based on 176 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Exeter?

New Build at 71.6% based on 67 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Exeter?

From 92.6% (Conservatory) to 71.6% (New Build). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Exeter

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Exeter is 21.0% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

7,061 real decisions·17 project types·Updated June 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	176	163	13	92.6%
2	Rear Extension	1,062	972	90	91.5%
3	Extension (General)	488	445	43	91.2%
4	Outbuilding	297	271	26	91.2%
5	Dormer	425	380	45	89.4%
6	Wraparound Extension	57	50	7	87.7%
7	Garage / Parking	804	698	106	86.8%
8	Loft Conversion	265	229	36	86.4%
9	Change of Use (Residential)	364	313	51	86.0%
10	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	71	61	10	85.9%
11	Front Extension	59	50	9	84.7%
12	Side Extension	419	349	70	83.3%
13	HMO	236	196	40	83.1%
14	Basement	79	64	15	81.0%
15	Flat Conversion	45	34	11	75.6%
16	Annex	54	40	14	74.1%
17	New Build	67	48	19	71.6%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 92.6% approval rate. New Build? Just 71.6%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 71.6% to 92.6%. 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

654 planning applications in Exeter 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 Exeter planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 7,061 decisions in Exeter 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 Exeter Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →