Data-backed planning intelligence · 2,500,000+ decisions analysed across England

Most Common Planning Applications in Manchester

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Manchester is 30.8% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

13,750 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026
94.8%
Safest: Wraparound Extension
64.0%
Lowest: HMO
30.8%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Wraparound Extension52149427
94.8%
2Conservatory1381299
93.5%
3Side Extension1,5101,390120
92.1%
4Rear Extension2,3812,181200
91.6%
5Basement27424628
89.8%
6Front Extension25022129
88.4%
7Garage / Parking1,021893128
87.5%
8Loft Conversion12611016
87.3%
9Annex22193
86.4%
10Dormer730630100
86.3%
11Extension (General)45038763
86.0%
12Outbuilding28524342
85.3%
13New Build45638571
84.4%
14Hip-to-Gable Conversion17013931
81.8%
15Change of Use (Residential)572458114
80.1%
16Flat Conversion946529
69.1%
17HMO21413777
64.0%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 94.8% approval rate. HMO? Just 64.0%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 64.0% to 94.8%. 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

1,665 planning applications in Manchester 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 Manchester planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 13,750 decisions in Manchester 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 Manchester Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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