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

Flat Conversion at 91.8% based on 912 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Sutton?

HMO at 74.5% based on 157 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Sutton?

From 91.8% (Flat Conversion) to 74.5% (HMO). 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 17.3% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

17,407 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Flat Conversion	912	837	75	91.8%
2	Extension (General)	2,069	1,830	239	88.4%
3	Conservatory	410	345	65	84.1%
4	Basement	227	191	36	84.1%
5	Garage / Parking	3,963	3,272	691	82.6%
6	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	424	350	74	82.5%
7	Dormer	2,964	2,440	524	82.3%
8	Change of Use (Residential)	908	746	162	82.2%
9	Outbuilding	792	646	146	81.6%
10	Rear Extension	6,821	5,419	1,402	79.4%
11	Side Extension	2,890	2,273	617	78.7%
12	Wraparound Extension	1,004	786	218	78.3%
13	New Build	1,030	798	232	77.5%
14	Loft Conversion	129	100	29	77.5%
15	Front Extension	897	691	206	77.0%
16	Annex	149	112	37	75.2%
17	HMO	157	117	40	74.5%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A flat conversion application has a 91.8% approval rate. HMO? Just 74.5%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 74.5% to 91.8%. 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

2,809 planning applications in Sutton have been refused since 2020. Many of those homeowners had already paid for drawings and application fees. A £79 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 17,407 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 present. Full methodology →