Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,290,000+ decisions analysed across England

Rear Extension Approval Rates in Guildford

Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 3,907 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in Guildford.

3,907 real decisions·January 2020 to present·Updated June 2026
81.7%
Approval Rate
3,907
Decisions
3,193
Approved
714
Refused
81.7% approved. But 714 refused since 2020. Each refusal cost the homeowner time and money on drawings and application fees. Understanding your local data before you apply is the difference between confidence and a costly gamble.

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Why rear extension approval rates matter

Rear extensions sit in the middle of the pack nationally. They're common enough that councils have clear precedent — but that cuts both ways. If your neighbours have been refused, that precedent works against you too.

Ward gap in Guildford: Stoughton South approves 100.0% of rear extension applications while Tillingbourne sits at 62.5%. That 37.5% gap means your postcode is one of the strongest indicators of outcome.

Rear Extension approval rate by ward

#WardDecisionsApprovedRate
1Stoughton South55
100.0%
2Castle99
100.0%
3Shalford55
100.0%
4Clandon & Horsley98
88.9%
5Worplesdon65
83.3%
6Tillingbourne85
62.5%
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These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A rear extension has a 100.0% approval rate in Stoughton South but just 62.5% in Tillingbourne.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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How rear extensions compare to other project types

Not all applications are treated equally. Here's how rear extensions stack up against other common projects in Guildford.

TypeDecisionsRate
Conservatory800
85.1%
Wraparound Extension435
82.1%
Rear Extension3,907
81.7%
Basement149
80.5%
Side Extension2,235
80.4%
Front Extension651
79.9%
Extension (General)759
79.1%
Outbuilding1,311
79.1%
Garage / Parking3,132
78.9%
Hip-to-Gable Conversion331
78.9%
Dormer1,513
76.3%
Loft Conversion782
75.8%
Annex121
73.6%
Flat Conversion44
72.7%
Change of Use (Residential)469
72.1%
New Build738
70.1%
HMO69
56.5%
See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

1
81.7% of rear extension applications in Guildford get approved. That means 714 homeowners since 2020 have been refused. Not terrible odds, but not a foregone conclusion.
2
Your ward matters more than you think. The 37.5% gap between Stoughton South (100.0%) and Tillingbourne (62.5%) means your postcode is one of the strongest indicators of outcome.
3
Council averages are starting points, not guarantees. The decisions that matter most are the comparable ones near your specific property — because planning officers look at precedent, character and the immediate context of your street.

Before you spend £5,000+ on architects and drawings

714 rear extension 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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Free · Property report emailed in minutes · Based on 3,290,000+ real decisions

More Guildford planning data

Nearby councils rear extension data

Methodology: Based on 3,907 planning decisions classified as rear extensions in Guildford, January 2020 to present. Classification uses keyword matching against proposal descriptions (matching generate_site_data.py rules). A single application may appear in multiple categories. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid applications excluded. Data from Guildford Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →
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