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

Change of Use (Residential) at 91.1% based on 1,351 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Richmond?

Front Extension at 76.5% based on 307 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Richmond?

From 91.1% (Change of Use (Residential)) to 76.5% (Front Extension). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Richmond

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Richmond is 14.6% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

32,316 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Change of Use (Residential)	1,351	1,231	120	91.1%
2	Conservatory	678	607	71	89.5%
3	HMO	122	109	13	89.3%
4	Flat Conversion	328	290	38	88.4%
5	Outbuilding	1,819	1,592	227	87.5%
6	Extension (General)	1,482	1,259	223	85.0%
7	New Build	780	654	126	83.8%
8	Garage / Parking	3,156	2,643	513	83.7%
9	Basement	890	742	148	83.4%
10	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	1,214	1,004	210	82.7%
11	Rear Extension	6,906	5,682	1,224	82.3%
12	Wraparound Extension	584	479	105	82.0%
13	Side Extension	3,129	2,563	566	81.9%
14	Dormer	4,536	3,704	832	81.7%
15	Loft Conversion	3,724	3,038	686	81.6%
16	Annex	107	85	22	79.4%
17	Front Extension	307	235	72	76.5%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A change of use (residential) application has a 91.1% approval rate. Front Extension? Just 76.5%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 76.5% to 91.1%. 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

4,103 planning applications in Richmond 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 Richmond planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 32,316 decisions in Richmond 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 Richmond Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →