Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,290,000+ decisions analysed across England

Rear Extension Approval Rates in Lambeth

Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 6,119 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in Lambeth.

6,119 real decisions·January 2020 to present·Updated June 2026
82.3%
Approval Rate
6,119
Decisions
5,034
Approved
1,085
Refused
82.3% approved. But 1,085 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.

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.

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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 Lambeth.

TypeDecisionsRate
Flat Conversion2,900
89.3%
Conservatory349
87.7%
Garage / Parking4,550
87.3%
Extension (General)1,525
85.2%
New Build2,122
85.2%
Side Extension2,218
85.0%
Basement3,493
84.9%
Outbuilding973
83.7%
Wraparound Extension387
83.2%
Rear Extension6,119
82.3%
Dormer3,173
81.2%
Change of Use (Residential)2,590
79.3%
Loft Conversion3,562
78.0%
Front Extension71
77.5%
Hip-to-Gable Conversion467
76.7%
Annex63
76.2%
HMO264
65.5%
See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

1
82.3% of rear extension applications in Lambeth get approved. That means 1,085 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

1,085 rear extension 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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Free · Property report emailed in minutes · Based on 3,290,000+ real decisions

More Lambeth planning data

Nearby councils rear extension data

Methodology: Based on 6,119 planning decisions classified as rear extensions in Lambeth, 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 Lambeth Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →
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