Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,840,000+ decisions analysed across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
PlanningLens

Rear Extension Approval Rates in Luton

Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 2,355 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in Luton.

2,355 real decisions·January 2020 to September 2026·Updated September 2026
90.1%
Approval Rate
2,355
Decisions
2,122
Approved
233
Refused
90.1% approved. But 233 refused since 2020. Each refusal cost the homeowner time and money on drawings and application fees. Understanding your local data before you apply is the difference between confidence and a costly gamble.

Check Planning Approval Patterns in Luton

See your ward's approval rate and nearby planning decisions — free and instant.

Check My Postcode

Why rear extension approval rates matter

Rear extensions sit in the middle of the pack nationally. They're common enough that councils have clear precedent — but that cuts both ways. If your neighbours have been refused, that precedent works against you too.

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

Two houses on the same street can get different outcomes.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

Check My Postcode

How rear extensions compare to other project types

Not all applications are treated equally. Here's how rear extensions stack up against other common projects in Luton.

TypeDecisionsRate
Conservatory54
92.6%
Rear Extension2,355
90.1%
Garage / Parking743
90.0%
Extension (General)100
88.0%
Front Extension207
83.6%
Hip-to-Gable Conversion57
82.5%
Wraparound Extension150
82.0%
New Build416
81.2%
Outbuilding150
80.7%
Loft Conversion194
79.9%
Side Extension521
79.7%
Dormer281
79.0%
Annex38
73.7%
Change of Use (Residential)373
69.2%
HMO80
63.7%
Flat Conversion20
30.0%
See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

1
90.1% of rear extension applications in Luton get approved. That means 233 homeowners since 2020 have been refused. Not terrible odds, but not a foregone conclusion.
3
Council averages are starting points, not guarantees. The decisions that matter most are the comparable ones near your specific property — because planning officers look at precedent, character and the immediate context of your street.

Before you spend £5,000+ on architects and drawings

233 rear extension 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.

Check my postcode
Free · Property report emailed in minutes · Based on 3,840,000+ real decisions

More Luton planning data

Methodology: Based on 2,355 planning decisions classified as rear extensions in Luton, January 2020 to September 2026. Classification uses keyword matching against proposal descriptions (matching generate_site_data.py rules). A single application may appear in multiple categories. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid applications excluded. Data from Luton Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →
Check planning approval patterns in Luton — Free