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

Conservatory at 85.4% based on 813 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Guildford?

HMO at 55.7% based on 70 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Guildford?

From 85.4% (Conservatory) to 55.7% (HMO). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Guildford

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Guildford is 29.7% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

18,185 real decisions·17 project types·Updated August 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	813	694	119	85.4%
2	Wraparound Extension	445	366	79	82.2%
3	Rear Extension	3,984	3,260	724	81.8%
4	Side Extension	2,288	1,845	443	80.6%
5	Basement	153	123	30	80.4%
6	Front Extension	662	528	134	79.8%
7	Outbuilding	1,344	1,065	279	79.2%
8	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	335	265	70	79.1%
9	Garage / Parking	3,205	2,526	679	78.8%
10	Extension (General)	776	611	165	78.7%
11	Dormer	1,539	1,177	362	76.5%
12	Loft Conversion	795	604	191	76.0%
13	Annex	124	92	32	74.2%
14	Flat Conversion	44	32	12	72.7%
15	Change of Use (Residential)	484	346	138	71.5%
16	New Build	756	528	228	69.8%
17	HMO	70	39	31	55.7%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 85.4% approval rate. HMO? Just 55.7%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 55.7% to 85.4%. 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

3,261 planning applications in Guildford 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 Guildford planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 18,185 decisions in Guildford 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 Guildford Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to August 2026. Full methodology →