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

New Build at 88.8% based on 303 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Lewisham?

Front Extension at 60.7% based on 61 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Lewisham?

From 88.8% (New Build) to 60.7% (Front Extension). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

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 28.1% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

25,419 real decisions·17 project types·Updated June 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	New Build	303	269	34	88.8%
2	Wraparound Extension	449	380	69	84.6%
3	Extension (General)	2,724	2,291	433	84.1%
4	Flat Conversion	2,760	2,311	449	83.7%
5	Conservatory	363	302	61	83.2%
6	Garage / Parking	3,651	3,033	618	83.1%
7	Outbuilding	837	693	144	82.8%
8	Basement	1,243	1,025	218	82.5%
9	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	892	731	161	82.0%
10	Dormer	2,062	1,680	382	81.5%
11	Loft Conversion	2,647	2,098	549	79.3%
12	Change of Use (Residential)	2,046	1,606	440	78.5%
13	Side Extension	1,181	897	284	76.0%
14	Rear Extension	4,713	3,558	1,155	75.5%
15	Annex	80	55	25	68.8%
16	HMO	470	288	182	61.3%
17	Front Extension	61	37	24	60.7%

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. Front Extension? Just 60.7%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 60.7% 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

4,334 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 25,419 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 →