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

Conservatory at 92.0% based on 461 decisions.

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

New Build at 76.8% based on 2,741 decisions.

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

From 92.0% (Conservatory) to 76.8% (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 15.2% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

15,856 real decisions·17 project types·Updated August 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	461	424	37	92.0%
2	Rear Extension	3,923	3,550	373	90.5%
3	Wraparound Extension	420	380	40	90.5%
4	Basement	39	35	4	89.7%
5	Side Extension	2,498	2,174	324	87.0%
6	Outbuilding	878	743	135	84.6%
7	Front Extension	643	543	100	84.4%
8	Garage / Parking	2,664	2,224	440	83.5%
9	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	235	196	39	83.4%
10	Dormer	1,076	887	189	82.4%
11	Extension (General)	591	486	105	82.2%
12	Change of Use (Residential)	1,042	835	207	80.1%
13	Loft Conversion	721	577	144	80.0%
14	Flat Conversion	44	35	9	79.5%
15	Annex	400	315	85	78.8%
16	HMO	309	241	68	78.0%
17	New Build	2,741	2,104	637	76.8%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 92.0% approval rate. New Build? Just 76.8%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 76.8% to 92.0%. 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

2,067 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 15,856 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 August 2026. Full methodology →