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

Rear Extension at 89.0% based on 10,080 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Leeds?

New Build at 71.8% based on 731 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Leeds?

From 89.0% (Rear Extension) to 71.8% (New Build). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Leeds

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Leeds is 17.2% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

44,615 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Rear Extension	10,080	8,973	1,107	89.0%
2	Conservatory	1,039	907	132	87.3%
3	Wraparound Extension	2,010	1,753	257	87.2%
4	Side Extension	6,927	5,968	959	86.2%
5	Extension (General)	3,224	2,749	475	85.3%
6	Garage / Parking	6,017	5,088	929	84.6%
7	Outbuilding	1,820	1,507	313	82.8%
8	Loft Conversion	707	585	122	82.7%
9	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	444	364	80	82.0%
10	Dormer	4,379	3,535	844	80.7%
11	Annex	220	176	44	80.0%
12	HMO	992	788	204	79.4%
13	Front Extension	1,403	1,101	302	78.5%
14	Change of Use (Residential)	2,245	1,736	509	77.3%
15	Basement	660	507	153	76.8%
16	Flat Conversion	229	172	57	75.1%
17	New Build	731	525	206	71.8%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A rear extension application has a 89.0% approval rate. New Build? Just 71.8%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 71.8% to 89.0%. 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

5,968 planning applications in Leeds have been refused since 2020. Many of those homeowners had already paid for drawings and application fees. A £79 report shows you what gets approved — and what gets refused — near your property.

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More Leeds planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 44,615 decisions in Leeds 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 Leeds Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →