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

Conservatory at 85.1% based on 800 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Guildford?

HMO at 56.5% based on 69 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Guildford?

From 85.1% (Conservatory) to 56.5% (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 28.6% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

17,793 real decisions·17 project types·Updated June 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	800	681	119	85.1%
2	Wraparound Extension	435	357	78	82.1%
3	Rear Extension	3,907	3,193	714	81.7%
4	Basement	149	120	29	80.5%
5	Side Extension	2,235	1,797	438	80.4%
6	Front Extension	651	520	131	79.9%
7	Extension (General)	759	600	159	79.1%
8	Outbuilding	1,311	1,037	274	79.1%
9	Garage / Parking	3,132	2,470	662	78.9%
10	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	331	261	70	78.9%
11	Dormer	1,513	1,154	359	76.3%
12	Loft Conversion	782	593	189	75.8%
13	Annex	121	89	32	73.6%
14	Flat Conversion	44	32	12	72.7%
15	Change of Use (Residential)	469	338	131	72.1%
16	New Build	738	517	221	70.1%
17	HMO	69	39	30	56.5%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 85.1% approval rate. HMO? Just 56.5%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 56.5% to 85.1%. 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

3,200 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 17,793 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 →