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Most Common Planning Applications in Lewisham

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Lewisham is 29.0% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

24,367 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026
89.0%
Safest: New Build
60.0%
Lowest: Front Extension
29.0%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1New Build29926633
89.0%
2Extension (General)2,6482,230418
84.2%
3Flat Conversion2,7272,290437
84.0%
4Wraparound Extension42035367
84.0%
5Garage / Parking3,5892,985604
83.2%
6Basement1,2231,012211
82.7%
7Conservatory35229161
82.7%
8Outbuilding796655141
82.3%
9Hip-to-Gable Conversion853697156
81.7%
10Dormer1,9451,574371
80.9%
11Loft Conversion2,5552,025530
79.3%
12Change of Use (Residential)1,9971,582415
79.2%
13Rear Extension4,4943,3901,104
75.4%
14Side Extension1,146864282
75.4%
15Annex775225
67.5%
16HMO442285157
64.5%
17Front Extension553322
60.0%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A new build application has a 89.0% approval rate. Front Extension? Just 60.0%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 60.0% to 89.0%. 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

4,175 planning applications in Lewisham 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 Lewisham planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 24,367 decisions in Lewisham 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 Lewisham Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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