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

Conservatory at 92.1% based on 478 decisions.

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

New Build at 77.0% based on 2,794 decisions.

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

From 92.1% (Conservatory) to 77.0% (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 15.1% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

11,189 real decisions·17 project types·Updated September 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	478	440	38	92.1%
2	Wraparound Extension	432	391	41	90.5%
3	Rear Extension	4,029	3,640	389	90.3%
4	Basement	39	35	4	89.7%
5	Side Extension	2,555	2,222	333	87.0%
6	Outbuilding	900	764	136	84.9%
7	Front Extension	657	557	100	84.8%
8	Garage / Parking	2,753	2,304	449	83.7%
9	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	246	205	41	83.3%
10	Dormer	1,102	909	193	82.5%
11	Extension (General)	604	498	106	82.5%
12	Flat Conversion	48	39	9	81.2%
13	Change of Use (Residential)	1,082	872	210	80.6%
14	Loft Conversion	742	594	148	80.1%
15	HMO	325	257	68	79.1%
16	Annex	411	323	88	78.6%
17	New Build	2,794	2,152	642	77.0%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 92.1% approval rate. New Build? Just 77.0%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 77.0% to 92.1%. 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

1,680 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 11,189 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 September 2026. Full methodology →