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Most Common Planning Applications in Sefton

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Sefton is 56.9% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

5,018 real decisions·17 project types·Updated September 2026
100.0%
Safest: Wraparound Extension
43.1%
Lowest: HMO
56.9%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Wraparound Extension43430
100.0%
2Hip-to-Gable Conversion65641
98.5%
3Conservatory4124039
97.8%
4Side Extension2392318
96.7%
5Loft Conversion1141095
95.6%
6Annex42402
95.2%
7Front Extension38362
94.7%
8Extension (General)2,0401,917123
94.0%
9Dormer60556936
94.0%
10Garage / Parking98490183
91.6%
11Outbuilding32329528
91.3%
12Rear Extension58653452
91.1%
13New Build34829850
85.6%
14Basement43367
83.7%
15Flat Conversion967224
75.0%
16Change of Use (Residential)560412148
73.6%
17HMO723141
43.1%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 100.0% approval rate. HMO? Just 43.1%.
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: 43.1% 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

479 planning applications in Sefton 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 Sefton planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 5,018 decisions in Sefton 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 Sefton Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to September 2026. Full methodology →
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