Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,770,000+ 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.

10,862 real decisions·15 project types·Updated August 2026
94.9%
Safest: Outbuilding
75.8%
Lowest: Hip-to-Gable Conversion
19.1%
Spread
15
Types ranked

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All 15 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Outbuilding91686947
94.9%
2Conservatory36734819
94.8%
3Basement68644
94.1%
4Extension (General)80074951
93.6%
5Rear Extension97090565
93.3%
6Front Extension1101028
92.7%
7Side Extension54550342
92.3%
8Garage / Parking1,4901,350140
90.6%
9Annex20218022
89.1%
10Dormer41436648
88.4%
11Wraparound Extension726210
86.1%
12New Build23920336
84.9%
13Loft Conversion15613125
84.0%
14Change of Use (Residential)39732572
81.9%
15Hip-to-Gable Conversion33258
75.8%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A outbuilding application has a 94.9% approval rate. Hip-to-Gable Conversion? Just 75.8%.
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: 75.8% 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

734 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 10,862 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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