Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,290,000+ decisions analysed across England

Most Common Planning Applications in Plymouth

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Plymouth is 19.0% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

7,031 real decisions·17 project types·Updated June 2026
97.9%
Safest: Loft Conversion
78.9%
Lowest: New Build
19.0%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Loft Conversion1891854
97.9%
2Wraparound Extension88862
97.7%
3Rear Extension1,2561,22135
97.2%
4Flat Conversion36351
97.2%
5Hip-to-Gable Conversion1191154
96.6%
6Side Extension62760522
96.5%
7Basement81783
96.3%
8Dormer38336716
95.8%
9Extension (General)29027416
94.5%
10Outbuilding20218913
93.6%
11Conservatory17015911
93.5%
12Front Extension15914811
93.1%
13HMO30327924
92.1%
14Annex85787
91.8%
15Garage / Parking82873890
89.1%
16Change of Use (Residential)46340360
87.0%
17New Build1098623
78.9%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A loft conversion application has a 97.9% approval rate. New Build? Just 78.9%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 78.9% to 97.9%. Choosing the right project type — or framing your application correctly — can dramatically affect outcomes.
2
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.
3
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

488 planning applications in Plymouth 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 Plymouth planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 7,031 decisions in Plymouth 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 Plymouth Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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