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Most Common Planning Applications in Surrey Heath

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Surrey Heath is 20.2% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

3,242 real decisions·15 project types·Updated September 2026
100.0%
Safest: HMO
79.8%
Lowest: Dormer
20.2%
Spread
15
Types ranked

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All 15 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1HMO29290
100.0%
2Basement28271
96.4%
3Conservatory39936138
90.5%
4Wraparound Extension20518322
89.3%
5Rear Extension1,4351,277158
89.0%
6Side Extension1,088961127
88.3%
7Garage / Parking1,104972132
88.0%
8Front Extension45539857
87.5%
9Outbuilding21418727
87.4%
10Extension (General)20117427
86.6%
11Change of Use (Residential)18715928
85.0%
12Annex40346
85.0%
13New Build37130863
83.0%
14Loft Conversion564511
80.4%
15Dormer26321053
79.8%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A hmo application has a 100.0% approval rate. Dormer? Just 79.8%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 79.8% to 100.0%. Choosing the right project type — or framing your application correctly — can dramatically affect outcomes.
2
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.
3
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

378 planning applications in Surrey Heath 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 Surrey Heath planning data

Methodology: Classifies 3,242 decisions in Surrey Heath 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 Surrey Heath Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to September 2026. Full methodology →
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