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

Rear Extension Approval Rates in Mid Sussex

Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 1,182 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in Mid Sussex.

1,182 real decisions·January 2020 to present·Updated March 2026
95.9%
Approval Rate
1,182
Decisions
1,134
Approved
48
Refused
95.9% approved. But 48 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 Mid Sussex

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.

Rear Extension approval rate by ward

#WardDecisionsApprovedRate
1Lindfield55
100.0%
See how this applies to your postcode →

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 Mid Sussex.

TypeDecisionsRate
Conservatory321
96.9%
Front Extension220
96.4%
Rear Extension1,182
95.9%
Side Extension676
95.3%
Wraparound Extension85
95.3%
Outbuilding400
94.5%
Loft Conversion329
93.3%
Basement28
92.9%
Hip-to-Gable Conversion67
92.5%
Extension (General)505
92.3%
Garage / Parking1,307
92.2%
Dormer460
92.2%
Change of Use (Residential)236
89.4%
Annex62
85.5%
New Build161
75.8%
See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

1
95.9% of rear extension applications in Mid Sussex get approved. That means 48 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

48 rear extension applications in Mid Sussex 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.

Check My Postcode First
Free instant check · Pro Report £79 · Based on 2,500,000+ real decisions

More Mid Sussex planning data

Nearby councils rear extension data

Methodology: Based on 1,182 planning decisions classified as rear extensions in Mid Sussex, January 2020 to present. 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 Mid Sussex Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →
Check planning approval patterns in Mid Sussex — Free