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Most Common Planning Applications in Sandwell

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Sandwell is 12.3% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

6,061 real decisions·15 project types·Updated September 2026
100.0%
Safest: HMO
87.7%
Lowest: Dormer
12.3%
Spread
15
Types ranked

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All 15 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1HMO43430
100.0%
2Hip-to-Gable Conversion32311
96.9%
3Flat Conversion29281
96.6%
4Wraparound Extension1991918
96.0%
5Conservatory31329914
95.5%
6Side Extension1,0911,03259
94.6%
7Front Extension23622313
94.5%
8Rear Extension3,2062,994212
93.4%
9Loft Conversion17616412
93.2%
10Outbuilding1121048
92.9%
11Garage / Parking45441836
92.1%
12Extension (General)26023723
91.2%
13Change of Use (Residential)39335835
91.1%
14New Build53476
88.7%
15Dormer22719928
87.7%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A hmo application has a 100.0% approval rate. Dormer? Just 87.7%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 87.7% to 100.0%. 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

427 planning applications in Sandwell 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 Sandwell planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 6,061 decisions in Sandwell 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 Sandwell Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to September 2026. Full methodology →
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