Data-backed planning intelligence · 2,500,000+ decisions analysed across England

Most Common Planning Applications in Portsmouth

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Portsmouth is 24.5% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

9,214 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026
93.2%
Safest: Conservatory
68.7%
Lowest: Flat Conversion
24.5%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Conservatory21920415
93.2%
2Outbuilding23021218
92.2%
3Wraparound Extension46424
91.3%
4Rear Extension2,2542,010244
89.2%
5Basement877611
87.4%
6Side Extension57149774
87.0%
7Extension (General)31326944
85.9%
8HMO1,003858145
85.5%
9Front Extension1099316
85.3%
10Change of Use (Residential)1,3361,132204
84.7%
11Garage / Parking657556101
84.6%
12Hip-to-Gable Conversion1018021
79.2%
13Dormer756595161
78.7%
14Annex36279
75.0%
15Loft Conversion20015050
75.0%
16New Build27198
70.4%
17Flat Conversion14710146
68.7%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 93.2% approval rate. Flat Conversion? Just 68.7%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 68.7% to 93.2%. 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

1,062 planning applications in Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 9,214 decisions in Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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