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Most Common Planning Applications in Swale

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Swale is 19.7% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

859 real decisions·13 project types·Updated September 2026
97.8%
Safest: Extension (General)
78.1%
Lowest: Change of Use (Residential)
19.7%
Spread
13
Types ranked

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All 13 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Extension (General)46451
97.8%
2Front Extension45432
95.6%
3Conservatory48453
93.8%
4Loft Conversion74695
93.2%
5Dormer87816
93.1%
6Annex26242
92.3%
7Outbuilding90828
91.1%
8Garage / Parking34430539
88.7%
9Side Extension12110615
87.6%
10Rear Extension26022337
85.8%
11Wraparound Extension22184
81.8%
12New Build1038320
80.6%
13Change of Use (Residential)1058223
78.1%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A extension (general) application has a 97.8% approval rate. Change of Use (Residential)? Just 78.1%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 78.1% to 97.8%. 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

106 planning applications in Swale 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 Swale planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 859 decisions in Swale 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 Swale Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to September 2026. Full methodology →
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