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

Most Common Planning Applications in South Downs

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in South Downs is 20.1% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

10,511 real decisions·15 project types·Updated March 2026
95.1%
Safest: Outbuilding
75.0%
Lowest: Hip-to-Gable Conversion
20.1%
Spread
15
Types ranked

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All 15 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Outbuilding88984544
95.1%
2Conservatory35533619
94.6%
3Basement65614
93.8%
4Extension (General)78473450
93.6%
5Rear Extension93987663
93.3%
6Front Extension107998
92.5%
7Side Extension53048842
92.1%
8Garage / Parking1,4481,312136
90.6%
9Annex19517322
88.7%
10Dormer39734948
87.9%
11Wraparound Extension70619
87.1%
12New Build23419935
85.0%
13Loft Conversion14912425
83.2%
14Change of Use (Residential)38231468
82.2%
15Hip-to-Gable Conversion32248
75.0%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A outbuilding application has a 95.1% approval rate. Hip-to-Gable Conversion? Just 75.0%.
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: 75.0% to 95.1%. 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

713 planning applications in South Downs 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 South Downs planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 10,511 decisions in South Downs 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 South Downs Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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