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

Rear Extension at 88.8% based on 10,474 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Leeds?

New Build at 72.8% based on 765 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Leeds?

From 88.8% (Rear Extension) to 72.8% (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 16.0% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

24,994 real decisions·17 project types·Updated September 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Rear Extension	10,474	9,298	1,176	88.8%
2	Wraparound Extension	2,093	1,822	271	87.1%
3	Conservatory	1,097	956	141	87.1%
4	Side Extension	7,188	6,179	1,009	86.0%
5	Extension (General)	3,379	2,884	495	85.4%
6	Garage / Parking	6,327	5,353	974	84.6%
7	Outbuilding	1,943	1,610	333	82.9%
8	Loft Conversion	741	609	132	82.2%
9	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	466	378	88	81.1%
10	Dormer	4,603	3,708	895	80.6%
11	Annex	224	178	46	79.5%
12	HMO	1,051	828	223	78.8%
13	Front Extension	1,454	1,138	316	78.3%
14	Change of Use (Residential)	2,377	1,831	546	77.0%
15	Basement	684	523	161	76.5%
16	Flat Conversion	240	181	59	75.4%
17	New Build	765	557	208	72.8%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A rear extension application has a 88.8% approval rate. New Build? Just 72.8%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 72.8% to 88.8%. 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

3,964 planning applications in Leeds 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 Leeds planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 24,994 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 September 2026. Full methodology →