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

Conservatory at 84.9% based on 768 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Guildford?

HMO at 56.1% based on 66 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Guildford?

From 84.9% (Conservatory) to 56.1% (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 28.8% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

16,972 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	768	652	116	84.9%
2	Wraparound Extension	418	342	76	81.8%
3	Basement	141	115	26	81.6%
4	Rear Extension	3,726	3,035	691	81.5%
5	Side Extension	2,143	1,715	428	80.0%
6	Front Extension	631	502	129	79.6%
7	Extension (General)	744	587	157	78.9%
8	Outbuilding	1,245	982	263	78.9%
9	Garage / Parking	2,963	2,323	640	78.4%
10	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	314	245	69	78.0%
11	Dormer	1,456	1,102	354	75.7%
12	Loft Conversion	752	565	187	75.1%
13	Annex	118	87	31	73.7%
14	Change of Use (Residential)	445	323	122	72.6%
15	Flat Conversion	42	30	12	71.4%
16	New Build	703	487	216	69.3%
17	HMO	66	37	29	56.1%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 84.9% approval rate. HMO? Just 56.1%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 56.1% to 84.9%. 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

3,104 planning applications in Guildford 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 Guildford planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 16,972 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 present. Full methodology →