Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,780,000+ 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 2.0% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

9,031 real decisions·8 project types·Updated August 2026
100.0%
Safest: Dormer
98.0%
Lowest: Change of Use (Residential)
2.0%
Spread
8
Types ranked

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All 8 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Dormer34340
100.0%
2Conservatory73730
100.0%
3Extension (General)8298209
98.9%
4Garage / Parking1,1301,11812
98.9%
5New Build2452423
98.8%
6Outbuilding5945859
98.5%
7Rear Extension59581
98.3%
8Change of Use (Residential)4013938
98.0%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A dormer application has a 100.0% approval rate. Change of Use (Residential)? Just 98.0%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 98.0% 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

156 planning applications in Shetland 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 Shetland planning data

Methodology: Classifies 9,031 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 August 2026. Full methodology →
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