Data-backed planning intelligence · 2,650,000+ decisions analysed across England

Most Common Planning Applications in Harlow

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Harlow is 4.8% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

2,497 real decisions·13 project types·Updated May 2026
100.0%
Safest: Dormer
95.2%
Lowest: HMO
4.8%
Spread
13
Types ranked

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All 13 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Dormer49490
100.0%
2Side Extension1611610
100.0%
3Loft Conversion41410
100.0%
4Front Extension67670
100.0%
5Conservatory37370
100.0%
6Change of Use (Residential)1091090
100.0%
7Annex21210
100.0%
8Garage / Parking4274243
99.3%
9Extension (General)97961
99.0%
10New Build1051041
99.0%
11Outbuilding94931
98.9%
12Rear Extension4234185
98.8%
13HMO21201
95.2%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A dormer application has a 100.0% approval rate. HMO? Just 95.2%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 95.2% to 100.0%. Choosing the right project type — or framing your application correctly — can dramatically affect outcomes.
2
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.
3
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

51 planning applications in Harlow 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 Harlow planning data

Methodology: Classifies 2,497 decisions in Harlow 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 Harlow Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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