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

Wraparound Extension at 96.1% based on 228 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in North Somerset?

HMO at 71.2% based on 66 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in North Somerset?

From 96.1% (Wraparound Extension) to 71.2% (HMO). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in North Somerset

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in North Somerset is 24.9% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

19,440 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	228	219	9	96.1%
2	Rear Extension	3,158	2,991	167	94.7%
3	Conservatory	922	871	51	94.5%
4	Side Extension	2,080	1,942	138	93.4%
5	Front Extension	563	516	47	91.7%
6	Extension (General)	1,392	1,272	120	91.4%
7	Dormer	1,071	969	102	90.5%
8	Loft Conversion	606	548	58	90.4%
9	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	56	50	6	89.3%
10	Outbuilding	918	818	100	89.1%
11	Basement	144	128	16	88.9%
12	Garage / Parking	3,443	3,058	385	88.8%
13	Annex	352	303	49	86.1%
14	Flat Conversion	82	70	12	85.4%
15	New Build	1,421	1,150	271	80.9%
16	Change of Use (Residential)	1,180	942	238	79.8%
17	HMO	66	47	19	71.2%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 96.1% approval rate. HMO? Just 71.2%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 71.2% to 96.1%. 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

1,907 planning applications in North Somerset 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 North Somerset planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 19,440 decisions in North Somerset 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 North Somerset Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →