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Most Common Planning Applications in Swindon

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Swindon is 6.6% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

4,658 real decisions·13 project types·Updated September 2026
97.1%
Safest: Wraparound Extension
90.5%
Lowest: Dormer
6.6%
Spread
13
Types ranked

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All 13 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Wraparound Extension70682
97.1%
2Conservatory2372289
96.2%
3Outbuilding88844
95.5%
4Extension (General)1351278
94.1%
5Rear Extension1,2611,18477
93.9%
6Side Extension52649333
93.7%
7Loft Conversion46433
93.5%
8Garage / Parking44541530
93.3%
9Annex24222
91.7%
10Change of Use (Residential)15714314
91.1%
11New Build26924425
90.7%
12Front Extension12911712
90.7%
13Dormer19017218
90.5%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 97.1% approval rate. Dormer? Just 90.5%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 90.5% to 97.1%. 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

230 planning applications in Swindon 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 Swindon planning data

Methodology: Classifies 4,658 decisions in Swindon 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 Swindon Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to September 2026. Full methodology →
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