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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 13.1% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

6,982 real decisions·15 project types·Updated August 2026
100.0%
Safest: HMO
86.9%
Lowest: Dormer
13.1%
Spread
15
Types ranked

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All 15 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1HMO37370
100.0%
2Hip-to-Gable Conversion30291
96.7%
3Flat Conversion28271
96.4%
4Wraparound Extension1921848
95.8%
5Conservatory31229814
95.5%
6Side Extension1,05899959
94.4%
7Front Extension22921613
94.3%
8Rear Extension3,1142,906208
93.3%
9Loft Conversion16315112
92.6%
10Outbuilding106988
92.5%
11Garage / Parking44040436
91.8%
12Extension (General)25923623
91.1%
13Change of Use (Residential)37734235
90.7%
14New Build53476
88.7%
15Dormer21318528
86.9%
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 86.9%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 86.9% 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

466 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 6,982 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 August 2026. Full methodology →
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