Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,780,000+ decisions analysed across England

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 19.6% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

5,111 real decisions·15 project types·Updated August 2026
100.0%
Safest: HMO
80.4%
Lowest: Loft Conversion
19.6%
Spread
15
Types ranked

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All 15 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1HMO29290
100.0%
2Basement28271
96.4%
3Conservatory39335538
90.3%
4Wraparound Extension20218121
89.6%
5Rear Extension1,4091,253156
88.9%
6Side Extension1,074949125
88.4%
7Garage / Parking1,078950128
88.1%
8Front Extension44539055
87.6%
9Outbuilding20918227
87.1%
10Extension (General)19416925
87.1%
11Annex37325
86.5%
12Change of Use (Residential)17915326
85.5%
13New Build36430262
83.0%
14Dormer25620650
80.5%
15Loft Conversion564511
80.4%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A hmo application has a 100.0% approval rate. Loft Conversion? Just 80.4%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 80.4% 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

503 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 5,111 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 August 2026. Full methodology →
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