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

Wraparound Extension at 96.2% based on 240 decisions.

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

HMO at 71.4% based on 70 decisions.

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

From 96.2% (Wraparound Extension) to 71.4% (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 24.8% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

20,178 real decisions·17 project types·Updated August 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Wraparound Extension	240	231	9	96.2%
2	Rear Extension	3,261	3,085	176	94.6%
3	Conservatory	962	910	52	94.6%
4	Side Extension	2,151	2,009	142	93.4%
5	Front Extension	589	541	48	91.9%
6	Extension (General)	1,446	1,324	122	91.6%
7	Dormer	1,099	996	103	90.6%
8	Loft Conversion	624	565	59	90.5%
9	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	59	53	6	89.8%
10	Outbuilding	955	854	101	89.4%
11	Basement	148	132	16	89.2%
12	Garage / Parking	3,579	3,181	398	88.9%
13	Annex	364	315	49	86.5%
14	Flat Conversion	85	73	12	85.9%
15	New Build	1,476	1,195	281	81.0%
16	Change of Use (Residential)	1,227	981	246	80.0%
17	HMO	70	50	20	71.4%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 96.2% approval rate. HMO? Just 71.4%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 71.4% to 96.2%. 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

1,956 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 20,178 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 August 2026. Full methodology →