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Most Common Planning Applications in Wakefield

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Wakefield is 27.2% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

10,038 real decisions·17 project types·Updated September 2026
97.8%
Safest: Wraparound Extension
70.6%
Lowest: HMO
27.2%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Wraparound Extension1801764
97.8%
2Conservatory3713629
97.6%
3Hip-to-Gable Conversion67652
97.0%
4Rear Extension1,8931,82865
96.6%
5Loft Conversion26024911
95.8%
6Front Extension27826513
95.3%
7Side Extension1,1891,13257
95.2%
8Extension (General)2,8592,719140
95.1%
9Basement66624
93.9%
10Annex1291209
93.0%
11Garage / Parking2,3132,121192
91.7%
12Dormer71064763
91.1%
13Outbuilding58351073
87.5%
14New Build53847167
87.5%
15Change of Use (Residential)945819126
86.7%
16Flat Conversion29254
86.2%
17HMO856025
70.6%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 97.8% approval rate. HMO? Just 70.6%.
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: 70.6% to 97.8%. 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

808 planning applications in Wakefield 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 Wakefield planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 10,038 decisions in Wakefield 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 Wakefield Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to September 2026. Full methodology →
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