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

Loft Conversion at 94.3% based on 35 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Glasgow?

Front Extension at 62.1% based on 29 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Glasgow?

From 94.3% (Loft Conversion) to 62.1% (Front Extension). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Glasgow

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Glasgow is 32.2% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

39,359 real decisions·16 project types·Updated March 2026

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All 16 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Loft Conversion	35	33	2	94.3%
2	Extension (General)	5,727	5,247	480	91.6%
3	Conservatory	425	377	48	88.7%
4	Outbuilding	553	490	63	88.6%
5	Garage / Parking	2,708	2,397	311	88.5%
6	Basement	318	279	39	87.7%
7	Rear Extension	1,282	1,123	159	87.6%
8	Flat Conversion	272	231	41	84.9%
9	Annex	39	33	6	84.6%
10	Side Extension	969	812	157	83.8%
11	Change of Use (Residential)	198	166	32	83.8%
12	Wraparound Extension	265	221	44	83.4%
13	New Build	2,222	1,795	427	80.8%
14	Dormer	979	764	215	78.0%
15	HMO	62	45	17	72.6%
16	Front Extension	29	18	11	62.1%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A loft conversion application has a 94.3% approval rate. Front Extension? Just 62.1%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 62.1% to 94.3%. 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

4,667 planning applications in Glasgow have been refused since 2020. Many of those homeowners had already paid for drawings and application fees. A £79 report shows you what gets approved — and what gets refused — near your property.

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More Glasgow planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 39,359 decisions in Glasgow 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 Glasgow Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →