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

Conservatory at 91.8% based on 49 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Luton?

HMO at 61.9% based on 63 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Luton?

From 91.8% (Conservatory) to 61.9% (HMO). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Luton

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Luton is 29.9% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

4,287 real decisions·15 project types·Updated June 2026

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All 15 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	49	45	4	91.8%
2	Garage / Parking	664	606	58	91.3%
3	Rear Extension	2,220	2,004	216	90.3%
4	Extension (General)	94	84	10	89.4%
5	Front Extension	178	151	27	84.8%
6	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	52	43	9	82.7%
7	Wraparound Extension	122	100	22	82.0%
8	New Build	394	320	74	81.2%
9	Outbuilding	131	106	25	80.9%
10	Loft Conversion	175	141	34	80.6%
11	Side Extension	456	363	93	79.6%
12	Dormer	254	202	52	79.5%
13	Annex	34	25	9	73.5%
14	Change of Use (Residential)	326	225	101	69.0%
15	HMO	63	39	24	61.9%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 91.8% approval rate. HMO? Just 61.9%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 61.9% to 91.8%. 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

526 planning applications in Luton 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 Luton planning data

Methodology: Classifies 4,287 decisions in Luton 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 Luton Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →