Data-backed planning intelligence · 2,500,000+ decisions analysed across England

Rear Extension Approval Rates in Hackney

Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 3,697 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in Hackney.

3,697 real decisions·January 2020 to present·Updated March 2026
85.0%
Approval Rate
3,697
Decisions
3,142
Approved
555
Refused
85.0% approved. But 555 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 Hackney: Stamford Hill West Ward approves 85.7% of rear extension applications while Cazenove Ward sits at 60.0%. That 25.7% gap means your postcode is one of the strongest indicators of outcome.

Rear Extension approval rate by ward

#WardDecisionsApprovedRate
1Stamford Hill West Ward76
85.7%
2Springfield Ward64
66.7%
3Cazenove Ward53
60.0%
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These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A rear extension has a 85.7% approval rate in Stamford Hill West Ward but just 60.0% in Cazenove Ward.
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 Hackney.

TypeDecisionsRate
Garage / Parking989
93.3%
Flat Conversion959
92.2%
Conservatory112
90.2%
Basement2,737
88.5%
New Build909
88.2%
Change of Use (Residential)1,952
87.7%
Wraparound Extension205
87.3%
Front Extension70
85.7%
Outbuilding512
85.5%
Side Extension855
85.1%
Rear Extension3,697
85.0%
Extension (General)1,281
84.8%
Dormer1,437
82.3%
Loft Conversion2,342
81.3%
HMO136
73.5%
Hip-to-Gable Conversion66
62.1%
See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

1
85.0% of rear extension applications in Hackney get approved. That means 555 homeowners since 2020 have been refused. Not terrible odds, but not a foregone conclusion.
2
Your ward matters more than you think. The 25.7% gap between Stamford Hill West Ward (85.7%) and Cazenove Ward (60.0%) 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

555 rear extension applications in Hackney 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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Free instant check · Pro Report £79 · Based on 2,500,000+ real decisions

More Hackney planning data

Nearby councils rear extension data

Methodology: Based on 3,697 planning decisions classified as rear extensions in Hackney, 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 Hackney Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →
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