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.

23,213 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	843	666	177	79.0%
3	Flat Conversion	570	445	125	78.1%
4	Extension (General)	615	477	138	77.6%
5	Garage / Parking	2,906	2,253	653	77.5%
6	Basement	853	653	200	76.6%
7	Conservatory	478	366	112	76.6%
8	Annex	71	53	18	74.6%
9	Change of Use (Residential)	1,581	1,120	461	70.8%
10	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	834	587	247	70.4%
11	Loft Conversion	2,662	1,806	856	67.8%
12	Dormer	2,832	1,921	911	67.8%
13	Rear Extension	5,616	3,739	1,877	66.6%
14	HMO	658	414	244	62.9%
15	Side Extension	2,061	1,232	829	59.8%
16	Wraparound Extension	685	396	289	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

5,050 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 23,213 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 →