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

New Build at 85.6% based on 430 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Greenwich?

Front Extension at 49.5% based on 222 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Greenwich?

From 85.6% (New Build) to 49.5% (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 36.1% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

22,217 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	New Build	430	368	62	85.6%
2	Outbuilding	797	628	169	78.8%
3	Flat Conversion	548	431	117	78.6%
4	Extension (General)	587	460	127	78.4%
5	Garage / Parking	2,787	2,171	616	77.9%
6	Basement	820	629	191	76.7%
7	Conservatory	459	350	109	76.3%
8	Change of Use (Residential)	1,507	1,080	427	71.7%
9	Annex	66	47	19	71.2%
10	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	797	562	235	70.5%
11	Dormer	2,691	1,828	863	67.9%
12	Loft Conversion	2,547	1,723	824	67.6%
13	Rear Extension	5,373	3,561	1,812	66.3%
14	HMO	612	396	216	64.7%
15	Side Extension	1,988	1,189	799	59.8%
16	Wraparound Extension	659	383	276	58.1%
17	Front Extension	222	110	112	49.5%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A new build application has a 85.6% approval rate. Front Extension? Just 49.5%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 49.5% to 85.6%. 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

4,862 planning applications in Greenwich 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 Greenwich planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 22,217 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 →