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

Wraparound Extension at 88.7% based on 354 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Newham?

HMO at 40.2% based on 291 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Newham?

From 88.7% (Wraparound Extension) to 40.2% (HMO). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Newham

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Newham is 48.5% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

21,604 real decisions·17 project types·Updated June 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Wraparound Extension	354	314	40	88.7%
2	Conservatory	198	173	25	87.4%
3	Garage / Parking	1,255	1,093	162	87.1%
4	New Build	566	484	82	85.5%
5	Flat Conversion	771	626	145	81.2%
6	Side Extension	1,099	876	223	79.7%
7	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	121	96	25	79.3%
8	Dormer	3,115	2,452	663	78.7%
9	Loft Conversion	2,024	1,591	433	78.6%
10	Rear Extension	4,486	3,523	963	78.5%
11	Extension (General)	1,659	1,303	356	78.5%
12	Outbuilding	423	324	99	76.6%
13	Basement	397	290	107	73.0%
14	Annex	40	28	12	70.0%
15	Change of Use (Residential)	1,361	901	460	66.2%
16	Front Extension	85	53	32	62.4%
17	HMO	291	117	174	40.2%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 88.7% approval rate. HMO? Just 40.2%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 40.2% to 88.7%. 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

3,285 planning applications in Newham 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 Newham planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 21,604 decisions in Newham 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 Newham Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →