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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 27.5% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

19,510 real decisions·17 project types·Updated September 2026
88.8%
Safest: New Build
61.3%
Lowest: HMO
27.5%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1New Build30427034
88.8%
2Wraparound Extension46439569
85.1%
3Extension (General)2,7582,320438
84.1%
4Flat Conversion2,7812,327454
83.7%
5Conservatory37231161
83.6%
6Outbuilding856711145
83.1%
7Garage / Parking3,6863,059627
83.0%
8Basement1,2511,032219
82.5%
9Hip-to-Gable Conversion913752161
82.4%
10Dormer2,1171,727390
81.6%
11Loft Conversion2,7012,142559
79.3%
12Change of Use (Residential)2,0701,618452
78.2%
13Side Extension1,199910289
75.9%
14Rear Extension4,8113,6401,171
75.7%
15Annex835825
69.9%
16Front Extension654025
61.5%
17HMO480294186
61.3%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A new build application has a 88.8% approval rate. HMO? Just 61.3%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 61.3% to 88.8%. 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

3,432 planning applications in Lewisham 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 Lewisham planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 19,510 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 September 2026. Full methodology →
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