Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,840,000+ decisions analysed across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
PlanningLens

Rear Extension Approval Rates in Torfaen

Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 586 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in Torfaen.

586 real decisions·January 2020 to September 2026·Updated September 2026
94.7%
Approval Rate
586
Decisions
555
Approved
31
Refused
94.7% approved. But 31 refused since 2020. Each refusal cost the homeowner time and money on drawings and application fees. Understanding your local data before you apply is the difference between confidence and a costly gamble.

Check Planning Approval Patterns in Torfaen

See your ward's approval rate and nearby planning decisions — free and instant.

Check My Postcode

Why rear extension approval rates matter

Rear extensions sit in the middle of the pack nationally. They're common enough that councils have clear precedent — but that cuts both ways. If your neighbours have been refused, that precedent works against you too.

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

Two houses on the same street can get different outcomes.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

Check My Postcode

How rear extensions compare to other project types

Not all applications are treated equally. Here's how rear extensions stack up against other common projects in Torfaen.

TypeDecisionsRate
Conservatory261
97.7%
Rear Extension586
94.7%
Side Extension312
93.6%
Dormer150
92.0%
Outbuilding163
91.4%
Extension (General)808
91.0%
Garage / Parking811
90.8%
Front Extension83
90.4%
Loft Conversion90
90.0%
Wraparound Extension28
89.3%
Change of Use (Residential)195
89.2%
Annex39
87.2%
New Build81
81.5%
See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

1
94.7% of rear extension applications in Torfaen get approved. That means 31 homeowners since 2020 have been refused. Not terrible odds, but not a foregone conclusion.
3
Council averages are starting points, not guarantees. The decisions that matter most are the comparable ones near your specific property — because planning officers look at precedent, character and the immediate context of your street.

Before you spend £5,000+ on architects and drawings

31 rear extension 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.

Check my postcode
Free · Property report emailed in minutes · Based on 3,840,000+ real decisions

More Torfaen planning data

Nearby councils rear extension data

Methodology: Based on 586 planning decisions classified as rear extensions in Torfaen, January 2020 to September 2026. Classification uses keyword matching against proposal descriptions (matching generate_site_data.py rules). A single application may appear in multiple categories. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid applications excluded. Data from Torfaen Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →
Check planning approval patterns in Torfaen — Free