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

Conservatory at 86.2% based on 318 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Thurrock?

Flat Conversion at 67.1% based on 73 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Thurrock?

From 86.2% (Conservatory) to 67.1% (Flat Conversion). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Thurrock

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Thurrock is 19.1% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

7,916 real decisions·17 project types·Updated September 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Conservatory	318	274	44	86.2%
2	Extension (General)	312	267	45	85.6%
3	Garage / Parking	2,109	1,733	376	82.2%
4	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	424	341	83	80.4%
5	Rear Extension	3,721	2,943	778	79.1%
6	Outbuilding	737	580	157	78.7%
7	Loft Conversion	1,344	1,052	292	78.3%
8	Basement	36	28	8	77.8%
9	Annex	190	147	43	77.4%
10	Dormer	1,431	1,106	325	77.3%
11	Front Extension	412	318	94	77.2%
12	Side Extension	1,562	1,203	359	77.0%
13	New Build	424	319	105	75.2%
14	Change of Use (Residential)	651	485	166	74.5%
15	Wraparound Extension	315	234	81	74.3%
16	HMO	76	55	21	72.4%
17	Flat Conversion	73	49	24	67.1%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 86.2% approval rate. Flat Conversion? Just 67.1%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 67.1% to 86.2%. 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

1,854 planning applications in Thurrock 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 Thurrock planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 7,916 decisions in Thurrock 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 Thurrock Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to September 2026. Full methodology →