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

Flat Conversion at 91.6% based on 916 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Sutton?

Annex at 72.4% based on 156 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Sutton?

From 91.6% (Flat Conversion) to 72.4% (Annex). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Sutton

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Sutton is 19.2% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

18,538 real decisions·17 project types·Updated August 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Flat Conversion	916	839	77	91.6%
2	Extension (General)	2,228	1,982	246	89.0%
3	Basement	235	199	36	84.7%
4	Conservatory	419	354	65	84.5%
5	Dormer	3,168	2,629	539	83.0%
6	Garage / Parking	4,155	3,444	711	82.9%
7	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	430	355	75	82.6%
8	Outbuilding	856	702	154	82.0%
9	Change of Use (Residential)	978	800	178	81.8%
10	Rear Extension	7,274	5,822	1,452	80.0%
11	Wraparound Extension	1,097	875	222	79.8%
12	Loft Conversion	151	120	31	79.5%
13	Side Extension	3,063	2,428	635	79.3%
14	New Build	1,060	828	232	78.1%
15	Front Extension	950	740	210	77.9%
16	HMO	189	140	49	74.1%
17	Annex	156	113	43	72.4%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A flat conversion application has a 91.6% approval rate. Annex? Just 72.4%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 72.4% to 91.6%. 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

2,939 planning applications in Sutton 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 Sutton planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 18,538 decisions in Sutton 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 Sutton Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to August 2026. Full methodology →