Data-backed planning intelligence · 2,500,000+ 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 20.0% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

6,550 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026
98.8%
Safest: Wraparound Extension
78.8%
Lowest: New Build
20.0%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Wraparound Extension85841
98.8%
2Loft Conversion1721684
97.7%
3Rear Extension1,1961,16432
97.3%
4Flat Conversion35341
97.1%
5Side Extension59757720
96.6%
6Hip-to-Gable Conversion1151114
96.5%
7Basement72693
95.8%
8Dormer36134516
95.6%
9Extension (General)27325716
94.1%
10Front Extension15014010
93.3%
11Conservatory16014911
93.1%
12Outbuilding18717413
93.0%
13HMO27225220
92.6%
14Annex81747
91.4%
15Garage / Parking77669482
89.4%
16Change of Use (Residential)42937158
86.5%
17New Build1048222
78.8%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 98.8% approval rate. New Build? Just 78.8%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 78.8% to 98.8%. 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

457 planning applications in Plymouth 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.

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More Plymouth planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 6,550 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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