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

Conservatory at 92.8% based on 305 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Merton?

HMO at 56.4% based on 181 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Merton?

From 92.8% (Conservatory) to 56.4% (HMO). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Merton

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Merton is 36.4% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

17,908 real decisions·17 project types·Updated September 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	305	283	22	92.8%
2	Basement	590	539	51	91.4%
3	Loft Conversion	3,943	3,548	395	90.0%
4	Wraparound Extension	481	427	54	88.8%
5	Garage / Parking	2,177	1,930	247	88.7%
6	Dormer	2,463	2,185	278	88.7%
7	New Build	1,251	1,099	152	87.8%
8	Extension (General)	940	820	120	87.2%
9	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	1,179	1,025	154	86.9%
10	Side Extension	1,985	1,691	294	85.2%
11	Change of Use (Residential)	1,170	979	191	83.7%
12	Outbuilding	1,055	878	177	83.2%
13	Flat Conversion	880	731	149	83.1%
14	Rear Extension	5,834	4,779	1,055	81.9%
15	Annex	106	84	22	79.2%
16	Front Extension	234	185	49	79.1%
17	HMO	181	102	79	56.4%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 92.8% approval rate. HMO? Just 56.4%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 56.4% to 92.8%. 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

2,497 planning applications in Merton 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 Merton planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 17,908 decisions in Merton 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 Merton Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to September 2026. Full methodology →