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

Conservatory at 89.8% based on 49 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Hackney?

HMO at 55.4% based on 74 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Hackney?

From 89.8% (Conservatory) to 55.4% (HMO). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Hackney

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Hackney is 34.4% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

8,400 real decisions·15 project types·Updated June 2026

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All 15 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	49	44	5	89.8%
2	Outbuilding	239	208	31	87.0%
3	Wraparound Extension	102	88	14	86.3%
4	Garage / Parking	182	156	26	85.7%
5	Side Extension	346	292	54	84.4%
6	Rear Extension	1,252	1,052	200	84.0%
7	Extension (General)	423	348	75	82.3%
8	Dormer	560	457	103	81.6%
9	Basement	572	457	115	79.9%
10	Loft Conversion	785	613	172	78.1%
11	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	33	25	8	75.8%
12	New Build	108	80	28	74.1%
13	Flat Conversion	91	65	26	71.4%
14	Change of Use (Residential)	293	189	104	64.5%
15	HMO	74	41	33	55.4%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 89.8% approval rate. HMO? Just 55.4%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 55.4% to 89.8%. 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

1,160 planning applications in Hackney 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 Hackney planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 8,400 decisions in Hackney 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 Hackney Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →