What type of planning application is most likely to be approved in Wakefield?

Wraparound Extension at 97.6% based on 169 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Wakefield?

HMO at 67.6% based on 71 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Wakefield?

From 97.6% (Wraparound Extension) to 67.6% (HMO). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

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 30.0% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

12,601 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Wraparound Extension	169	165	4	97.6%
2	Conservatory	348	339	9	97.4%
3	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	61	59	2	96.7%
4	Rear Extension	1,770	1,707	63	96.4%
5	Loft Conversion	242	231	11	95.5%
6	Side Extension	1,124	1,072	52	95.4%
7	Extension (General)	2,681	2,549	132	95.1%
8	Front Extension	264	251	13	95.1%
9	Basement	58	54	4	93.1%
10	Annex	119	110	9	92.4%
11	Garage / Parking	2,163	1,984	179	91.7%
12	Dormer	650	592	58	91.1%
13	Flat Conversion	28	25	3	89.3%
14	New Build	503	443	60	88.1%
15	Outbuilding	537	469	68	87.3%
16	Change of Use (Residential)	873	757	116	86.7%
17	HMO	71	48	23	67.6%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 97.6% approval rate. HMO? Just 67.6%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 67.6% to 97.6%. Choosing the right project type — or framing your application correctly — can dramatically affect outcomes.

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.

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

1,292 planning applications in Wakefield have been refused since 2020. Many of those homeowners had already paid for drawings and application fees. A £79 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 12,601 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 present. Full methodology →