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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 21.9% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

7,254 real decisions·17 project types·Updated August 2026
92.9%
Safest: Conservatory
71.0%
Lowest: New Build
21.9%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Conservatory18216913
92.9%
2Rear Extension1,07998792
91.5%
3Outbuilding30527926
91.5%
4Extension (General)50245943
91.4%
5Dormer43739245
89.7%
6Wraparound Extension57507
87.7%
7Garage / Parking818712106
87.0%
8Loft Conversion26923237
86.2%
9Hip-to-Gable Conversion726210
86.1%
10Change of Use (Residential)37232052
86.0%
11Front Extension61529
85.2%
12HMO25321340
84.2%
13Side Extension42535570
83.5%
14Basement816615
81.5%
15Flat Conversion453411
75.6%
16Annex554114
74.5%
17New Build694920
71.0%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 92.9% approval rate. New Build? Just 71.0%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 71.0% to 92.9%. 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

663 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 7,254 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 August 2026. Full methodology →
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