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Most Common Planning Applications in Tower Hamlets

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Tower Hamlets is 42.3% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

15,664 real decisions·16 project types·Updated September 2026
92.3%
Safest: Garage / Parking
50.0%
Lowest: HMO
42.3%
Spread
16
Types ranked

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All 16 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Garage / Parking1,5521,432120
92.3%
2New Build81074367
91.7%
3Conservatory12911415
88.4%
4Basement1,7231,519204
88.2%
5Extension (General)1,159978181
84.4%
6Flat Conversion39633264
83.8%
7Side Extension41935069
83.5%
8Outbuilding38832365
83.2%
9Wraparound Extension685513
80.9%
10Rear Extension1,9041,536368
80.7%
11Change of Use (Residential)2,1811,748433
80.1%
12Dormer522408114
78.2%
13Front Extension765818
76.3%
14Loft Conversion1,290969321
75.1%
15Annex24186
75.0%
16HMO246123123
50.0%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A garage / parking application has a 92.3% approval rate. HMO? Just 50.0%.
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: 50.0% to 92.3%. 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

2,333 planning applications in Tower Hamlets 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 Tower Hamlets planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 15,664 decisions in Tower Hamlets 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 Tower Hamlets Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to September 2026. Full methodology →
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