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

Most Common Planning Applications in Lancaster

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Lancaster is 20.0% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

4,802 real decisions·12 project types·Updated August 2026
97.6%
Safest: Wraparound Extension
77.6%
Lowest: Change of Use (Residential)
20.0%
Spread
12
Types ranked

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All 12 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Wraparound Extension41401
97.6%
2Conservatory1821757
96.2%
3Rear Extension45942336
92.2%
4Extension (General)50446440
92.1%
5Garage / Parking35232230
91.5%
6Side Extension21019020
90.5%
7Hip-to-Gable Conversion73667
90.4%
8Dormer26023228
89.2%
9Outbuilding12811414
89.1%
10New Build14813117
88.5%
11Loft Conversion47407
85.1%
12Change of Use (Residential)16512837
77.6%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 97.6% approval rate. Change of Use (Residential)? Just 77.6%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 77.6% to 97.6%. 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

389 planning applications in Lancaster 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 Lancaster planning data

Methodology: Classifies 4,802 decisions in Lancaster 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 Lancaster Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to August 2026. Full methodology →
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