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

Conservatory at 91.9% based on 468 decisions.

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

New Build at 76.8% based on 2,749 decisions.

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

From 91.9% (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 15.1% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

15,946 real decisions·17 project types·Updated August 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	468	430	38	91.9%
2	Wraparound Extension	422	382	40	90.5%
3	Rear Extension	3,944	3,567	377	90.4%
4	Basement	39	35	4	89.7%
5	Side Extension	2,511	2,185	326	87.0%
6	Outbuilding	880	745	135	84.7%
7	Front Extension	647	547	100	84.5%
8	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	240	201	39	83.8%
9	Garage / Parking	2,679	2,239	440	83.6%
10	Dormer	1,083	894	189	82.5%
11	Extension (General)	594	488	106	82.2%
12	Loft Conversion	727	583	144	80.2%
13	Change of Use (Residential)	1,049	841	208	80.2%
14	Flat Conversion	45	36	9	80.0%
15	Annex	401	316	85	78.8%
16	HMO	314	246	68	78.3%
17	New Build	2,749	2,112	637	76.8%

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 76.8%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 76.8% 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

2,082 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 15,946 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 →