What type of planning application is most likely to be approved in South Gloucestershire?

Conservatory at 91.9% based on 458 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in South Gloucestershire?

New Build at 76.5% based on 2,676 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in South Gloucestershire?

From 91.9% (Conservatory) to 76.5% (New Build). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in South Gloucestershire

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in South Gloucestershire is 15.4% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

15,481 real decisions·17 project types·Updated June 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	458	421	37	91.9%
2	Rear Extension	3,835	3,483	352	90.8%
3	Wraparound Extension	416	376	40	90.4%
4	Basement	39	35	4	89.7%
5	Side Extension	2,449	2,130	319	87.0%
6	Outbuilding	855	724	131	84.7%
7	Front Extension	636	537	99	84.4%
8	Garage / Parking	2,599	2,167	432	83.4%
9	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	229	191	38	83.4%
10	Dormer	1,051	864	187	82.2%
11	Extension (General)	574	470	104	81.9%
12	Change of Use (Residential)	1,021	819	202	80.2%
13	Loft Conversion	703	560	143	79.7%
14	Annex	387	306	81	79.1%
15	Flat Conversion	42	33	9	78.6%
16	HMO	300	234	66	78.0%
17	New Build	2,676	2,048	628	76.5%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 91.9% approval rate. New Build? Just 76.5%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 76.5% to 91.9%. Choosing the right project type — or framing your application correctly — can dramatically affect outcomes.

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.

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

2,016 planning applications in South Gloucestershire 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 Gloucestershire planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 15,481 decisions in South Gloucestershire 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 Gloucestershire Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →