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

Rear Extension at 88.9% based on 10,318 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Leeds?

New Build at 72.4% based on 749 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Leeds?

From 88.9% (Rear Extension) to 72.4% (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 16.5% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

45,799 real decisions·17 project types·Updated August 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Rear Extension	10,318	9,173	1,145	88.9%
2	Wraparound Extension	2,061	1,797	264	87.2%
3	Conservatory	1,077	939	138	87.2%
4	Side Extension	7,066	6,086	980	86.1%
5	Extension (General)	3,316	2,827	489	85.3%
6	Garage / Parking	6,187	5,231	956	84.5%
7	Outbuilding	1,895	1,568	327	82.7%
8	Loft Conversion	732	603	129	82.4%
9	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	460	372	88	80.9%
10	Dormer	4,515	3,637	878	80.6%
11	Annex	222	177	45	79.7%
12	HMO	1,017	803	214	79.0%
13	Front Extension	1,433	1,120	313	78.2%
14	Change of Use (Residential)	2,318	1,781	537	76.8%
15	Basement	674	516	158	76.6%
16	Flat Conversion	237	178	59	75.1%
17	New Build	749	542	207	72.4%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A rear extension application has a 88.9% approval rate. New Build? Just 72.4%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 72.4% to 88.9%. 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

6,174 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 45,799 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 August 2026. Full methodology →