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

Wraparound Extension at 81.3% based on 674 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Waltham Forest?

HMO at 23.1% based on 424 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Waltham Forest?

From 81.3% (Wraparound Extension) to 23.1% (HMO). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Waltham Forest

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Waltham Forest is 58.2% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

21,093 real decisions·17 project types·Updated June 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Wraparound Extension	674	548	126	81.3%
2	Outbuilding	637	512	125	80.4%
3	Dormer	4,728	3,767	961	79.7%
4	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	749	596	153	79.6%
5	Loft Conversion	4,720	3,679	1,041	77.9%
6	Extension (General)	317	244	73	77.0%
7	Conservatory	124	95	29	76.6%
8	Rear Extension	8,905	6,705	2,200	75.3%
9	Side Extension	1,386	991	395	71.5%
10	New Build	129	89	40	69.0%
11	Garage / Parking	1,034	682	352	66.0%
12	Front Extension	176	112	64	63.6%
13	Basement	186	112	74	60.2%
14	Change of Use (Residential)	763	423	340	55.4%
15	Flat Conversion	594	303	291	51.0%
16	Annex	31	11	20	35.5%
17	HMO	424	98	326	23.1%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 81.3% approval rate. HMO? Just 23.1%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 23.1% to 81.3%. 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

5,023 planning applications in Waltham Forest 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 Waltham Forest planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 21,093 decisions in Waltham Forest 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 Waltham Forest Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →