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

New Build at 85.0% based on 432 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Greenwich?

Front Extension at 49.6% based on 228 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Greenwich?

From 85.0% (New Build) to 49.6% (Front Extension). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Greenwich

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Greenwich is 35.4% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

22,979 real decisions·17 project types·Updated June 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	New Build	432	367	65	85.0%
2	Outbuilding	822	647	175	78.7%
3	Flat Conversion	559	437	122	78.2%
4	Garage / Parking	2,833	2,196	637	77.5%
5	Extension (General)	610	471	139	77.2%
6	Basement	842	640	202	76.0%
7	Conservatory	475	361	114	76.0%
8	Annex	70	51	19	72.9%
9	Change of Use (Residential)	1,545	1,099	446	71.1%
10	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	798	560	238	70.2%
11	Loft Conversion	2,580	1,742	838	67.5%
12	Dormer	2,717	1,833	884	67.5%
13	Rear Extension	5,514	3,663	1,851	66.4%
14	HMO	642	411	231	64.0%
15	Side Extension	2,024	1,209	815	59.7%
16	Wraparound Extension	673	394	279	58.5%
17	Front Extension	228	113	115	49.6%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A new build application has a 85.0% approval rate. Front Extension? Just 49.6%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 49.6% to 85.0%. 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

5,014 planning applications in Greenwich 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 Greenwich planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 22,979 decisions in Greenwich 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 Greenwich Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →