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

Most Common Planning Applications in Shetland

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Shetland is 2.2% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

6,267 real decisions·7 project types·Updated March 2026
100.0%
Safest: Dormer
97.8%
Lowest: Rear Extension
2.2%
Spread
7
Types ranked

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All 7 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Dormer20200
100.0%
2New Build1771752
98.9%
3Extension (General)6246159
98.6%
4Garage / Parking81079911
98.6%
5Outbuilding4684599
98.1%
6Change of Use (Residential)3673598
97.8%
7Rear Extension46451
97.8%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A dormer application has a 100.0% approval rate. Rear Extension? Just 97.8%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 97.8% 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

99 planning applications in Shetland 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 Shetland planning data

Methodology: Classifies 6,267 decisions in Shetland 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 Shetland Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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