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

New Build at 85.5% based on 434 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Greenwich?

Front Extension at 49.1% based on 230 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Greenwich?

From 85.5% (New Build) to 49.1% (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 36.4% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

23,270 real decisions·17 project types·Updated August 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	New Build	434	371	63	85.5%
2	Outbuilding	847	669	178	79.0%
3	Flat Conversion	570	445	125	78.1%
4	Extension (General)	617	478	139	77.5%
5	Garage / Parking	2,916	2,258	658	77.4%
6	Conservatory	480	368	112	76.7%
7	Basement	854	654	200	76.6%
8	Annex	71	53	18	74.6%
9	Change of Use (Residential)	1,588	1,122	466	70.7%
10	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	838	591	247	70.5%
11	Dormer	2,845	1,931	914	67.9%
12	Loft Conversion	2,671	1,812	859	67.8%
13	Rear Extension	5,637	3,756	1,881	66.6%
14	HMO	663	416	247	62.7%
15	Side Extension	2,066	1,236	830	59.8%
16	Wraparound Extension	688	398	290	57.8%
17	Front Extension	230	113	117	49.1%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A new build application has a 85.5% approval rate. Front Extension? Just 49.1%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 49.1% to 85.5%. 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

5,064 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 23,270 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 August 2026. Full methodology →