Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,780,000+ 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 19.1% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

10,988 real decisions·15 project types·Updated August 2026
94.9%
Safest: Conservatory
75.8%
Lowest: Hip-to-Gable Conversion
19.1%
Spread
15
Types ranked

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All 15 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Conservatory37135219
94.9%
2Outbuilding92187447
94.9%
3Basement68644
94.1%
4Extension (General)80975752
93.6%
5Rear Extension97891365
93.4%
6Front Extension1101028
92.7%
7Side Extension54750542
92.3%
8Garage / Parking1,5051,364141
90.6%
9Annex20218022
89.1%
10Dormer42037050
88.1%
11Wraparound Extension736310
86.3%
12New Build24220537
84.7%
13Loft Conversion15913326
83.6%
14Change of Use (Residential)40032872
82.0%
15Hip-to-Gable Conversion33258
75.8%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 94.9% approval rate. Hip-to-Gable Conversion? Just 75.8%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 75.8% to 94.9%. 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

742 planning applications in South Downs 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 South Downs planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 10,988 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 August 2026. Full methodology →
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