Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,290,000+ decisions analysed across England

Rear Extension Approval Rates in Sutton

Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 7,190 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in Sutton.

7,190 real decisions·January 2020 to present·Updated June 2026
80.0%
Approval Rate
7,190
Decisions
5,751
Approved
1,439
Refused
80.0% approved. But 1,439 refused since 2020. Each refusal cost the homeowner time and money on drawings and application fees. Understanding your local data before you apply is the difference between confidence and a costly gamble.

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Why rear extension approval rates matter

Rear extensions sit in the middle of the pack nationally. They're common enough that councils have clear precedent — but that cuts both ways. If your neighbours have been refused, that precedent works against you too.

Ward gap in Sutton: Carshalton Central approves 100.0% of rear extension applications while Stonecot sits at 60.0%. That 40.0% gap means your postcode is one of the strongest indicators of outcome.

Rear Extension approval rate by ward

#WardDecisionsApprovedRate
1Carshalton Central99
100.0%
2Sutton West & East Cheam66
100.0%
3Belmont1010
100.0%
4Carshalton South & Clockhouse1312
92.3%
5Worcester Park South87
87.5%
6St Helier West76
85.7%
7Cheam76
85.7%
8St Helier East65
83.3%
9Beddington86
75.0%
10Stonecot53
60.0%
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These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A rear extension has a 100.0% approval rate in Carshalton Central but just 60.0% in Stonecot.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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How rear extensions compare to other project types

Not all applications are treated equally. Here's how rear extensions stack up against other common projects in Sutton.

TypeDecisionsRate
Flat Conversion916
91.6%
Extension (General)2,202
89.1%
Basement234
84.6%
Conservatory416
84.4%
Dormer3,128
83.0%
Garage / Parking4,117
82.9%
Hip-to-Gable Conversion430
82.6%
Change of Use (Residential)966
82.0%
Outbuilding846
81.9%
Rear Extension7,190
80.0%
Wraparound Extension1,079
79.4%
Side Extension3,038
79.2%
Loft Conversion148
79.1%
New Build1,059
78.1%
Front Extension939
77.6%
HMO185
75.7%
Annex154
73.4%
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What the data tells us

1
80.0% of rear extension applications in Sutton get approved. That means 1,439 homeowners since 2020 have been refused. Not terrible odds, but not a foregone conclusion.
2
Your ward matters more than you think. The 40.0% gap between Carshalton Central (100.0%) and Stonecot (60.0%) means your postcode is one of the strongest indicators of outcome.
3
Council averages are starting points, not guarantees. The decisions that matter most are the comparable ones near your specific property — because planning officers look at precedent, character and the immediate context of your street.

Before you spend £5,000+ on architects and drawings

1,439 rear extension 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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Free · Property report emailed in minutes · Based on 3,290,000+ real decisions

More Sutton planning data

Nearby councils rear extension data

Methodology: Based on 7,190 planning decisions classified as rear extensions in Sutton, January 2020 to present. Classification uses keyword matching against proposal descriptions (matching generate_site_data.py rules). A single application may appear in multiple categories. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid applications excluded. Data from Sutton Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →
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