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Most Common Planning Applications in Torfaen

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Torfaen is 16.2% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

3,360 real decisions·13 project types·Updated September 2026
97.7%
Safest: Conservatory
81.5%
Lowest: New Build
16.2%
Spread
13
Types ranked

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All 13 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Conservatory2612556
97.7%
2Rear Extension58655531
94.7%
3Side Extension31229220
93.6%
4Dormer15013812
92.0%
5Outbuilding16314914
91.4%
6Extension (General)80873573
91.0%
7Garage / Parking81173675
90.8%
8Front Extension83758
90.4%
9Loft Conversion90819
90.0%
10Wraparound Extension28253
89.3%
11Change of Use (Residential)19517421
89.2%
12Annex39345
87.2%
13New Build816615
81.5%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A conservatory application has a 97.7% approval rate. New Build? Just 81.5%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 81.5% to 97.7%. 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

276 planning applications in Torfaen 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 Torfaen planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 3,360 decisions in Torfaen 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 Torfaen Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to September 2026. Full methodology →
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