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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 18.7% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

4,579 real decisions·17 project types·Updated September 2026
97.8%
Safest: Wraparound Extension
79.1%
Lowest: New Build
18.7%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Wraparound Extension90882
97.8%
2Flat Conversion39381
97.4%
3Rear Extension1,2991,26336
97.2%
4Loft Conversion1961906
96.9%
5Hip-to-Gable Conversion1221184
96.7%
6Side Extension65162922
96.6%
7Basement83803
96.4%
8Dormer39637917
95.7%
9Extension (General)30128516
94.7%
10Outbuilding21520213
94.0%
11Conservatory17516411
93.7%
12Front Extension16915811
93.5%
13HMO32530124
92.6%
14Annex87807
92.0%
15Garage / Parking86877593
89.3%
16Change of Use (Residential)48942960
87.7%
17New Build1108723
79.1%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 97.8% approval rate. New Build? Just 79.1%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 79.1% to 97.8%. 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

364 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 4,579 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 September 2026. Full methodology →
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