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

Flat Conversion at 89.2% based on 2,903 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Lambeth?

HMO at 65.6% based on 270 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Lambeth?

From 89.2% (Flat Conversion) to 65.6% (HMO). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Lambeth

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Lambeth is 23.6% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

31,836 real decisions·17 project types·Updated August 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Flat Conversion	2,903	2,590	313	89.2%
2	Conservatory	357	313	44	87.7%
3	Garage / Parking	4,575	3,994	581	87.3%
4	Side Extension	2,252	1,918	334	85.2%
5	Extension (General)	1,539	1,311	228	85.2%
6	New Build	2,138	1,821	317	85.2%
7	Basement	3,518	2,980	538	84.7%
8	Outbuilding	994	838	156	84.3%
9	Wraparound Extension	396	329	67	83.1%
10	Rear Extension	6,170	5,069	1,101	82.2%
11	Dormer	3,194	2,596	598	81.3%
12	Change of Use (Residential)	2,610	2,067	543	79.2%
13	Loft Conversion	3,574	2,789	785	78.0%
14	Annex	63	49	14	77.8%
15	Front Extension	71	55	16	77.5%
16	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	470	362	108	77.0%
17	HMO	270	177	93	65.6%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A flat conversion application has a 89.2% approval rate. HMO? Just 65.6%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 65.6% to 89.2%. 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

4,944 planning applications in Lambeth 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 Lambeth planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 31,836 decisions in Lambeth 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 Lambeth Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to August 2026. Full methodology →