Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,780,000+ decisions analysed across England

Most Common Planning Applications in Torbay

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Torbay is 48.0% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

5,670 real decisions·17 project types·Updated August 2026
88.0%
Safest: Wraparound Extension
40.0%
Lowest: HMO
48.0%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Wraparound Extension25223
88.0%
2Conservatory20017525
87.5%
3Front Extension38326
84.2%
4Rear Extension35529560
83.1%
5Annex594910
83.1%
6Outbuilding24019347
80.4%
7Extension (General)843678165
80.4%
8Garage / Parking1,028803225
78.1%
9Change of Use (Residential)32125071
77.9%
10Side Extension30523471
76.7%
11Loft Conversion23117358
74.9%
12Hip-to-Gable Conversion674819
71.6%
13Dormer393280113
71.2%
14Basement765323
69.7%
15New Build845529
65.5%
16Flat Conversion201010
50.0%
17HMO301218
40.0%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 88.0% approval rate. HMO? Just 40.0%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 40.0% to 88.0%. 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

1,082 planning applications in Torbay 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 Torbay planning data

Methodology: Classifies 5,670 decisions in Torbay 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 Torbay Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to August 2026. Full methodology →
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