Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,780,000+ decisions analysed across England

Rear Extension Approval Rates in Hertsmere

Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 1,283 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in Hertsmere.

1,283 real decisions·January 2020 to August 2026·Updated August 2026
86.6%
Approval Rate
1,283
Decisions
1,111
Approved
172
Refused
86.6% approved. But 172 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.

Check Planning Approval Patterns in Hertsmere

See your ward's approval rate and nearby planning decisions — free and instant.

Check My Postcode

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.

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

Two houses on the same street can get different outcomes.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

Check My Postcode

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 Hertsmere.

TypeDecisionsRate
HMO25
100.0%
Flat Conversion27
100.0%
Front Extension160
95.0%
Wraparound Extension116
94.8%
Basement32
93.8%
Hip-to-Gable Conversion141
92.9%
Garage / Parking537
91.4%
Dormer501
91.2%
Change of Use (Residential)71
90.1%
Extension (General)75
89.3%
Outbuilding156
89.1%
Conservatory165
87.9%
Side Extension360
87.2%
Rear Extension1,283
86.6%
Loft Conversion95
83.2%
New Build97
82.5%
See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

1
86.6% of rear extension applications in Hertsmere get approved. That means 172 homeowners since 2020 have been refused. Not terrible odds, but not a foregone conclusion.
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

172 rear extension applications in Hertsmere 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.

Check my postcode
Free · Property report emailed in minutes · Based on 3,780,000+ real decisions

More Hertsmere planning data

Methodology: Based on 1,283 planning decisions classified as rear extensions in Hertsmere, January 2020 to August 2026. 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 Hertsmere Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →
Check planning approval patterns in Hertsmere — Free