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

Conservatory at 91.8% based on 452 decisions.

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

New Build at 76.5% based on 2,652 decisions.

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

From 91.8% (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 15.3% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

15,285 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	452	415	37	91.8%
2	Rear Extension	3,783	3,434	349	90.8%
3	Wraparound Extension	412	372	40	90.3%
4	Basement	39	35	4	89.7%
5	Side Extension	2,420	2,103	317	86.9%
6	Front Extension	632	534	98	84.5%
7	Outbuilding	839	709	130	84.5%
8	Garage / Parking	2,564	2,133	431	83.2%
9	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	224	186	38	83.0%
10	Dormer	1,033	848	185	82.1%
11	Extension (General)	572	468	104	81.8%
12	Change of Use (Residential)	1,011	811	200	80.2%
13	Loft Conversion	691	549	142	79.5%
14	Annex	380	300	80	78.9%
15	Flat Conversion	42	33	9	78.6%
16	HMO	294	229	65	77.9%
17	New Build	2,652	2,028	624	76.5%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 91.8% approval rate. New Build? Just 76.5%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 76.5% to 91.8%. 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

2,002 planning applications in South Gloucestershire 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 Gloucestershire planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 15,285 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 →