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

Wraparound Extension at 81.2% based on 695 decisions.

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

HMO at 23.1% based on 437 decisions.

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

From 81.2% (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 58.1% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

21,639 real decisions·17 project types·Updated September 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Wraparound Extension	695	564	131	81.2%
2	Outbuilding	662	532	130	80.4%
3	Dormer	4,854	3,874	980	79.8%
4	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	765	609	156	79.6%
5	Loft Conversion	4,845	3,786	1,059	78.1%
6	Conservatory	127	98	29	77.2%
7	Extension (General)	328	252	76	76.8%
8	Rear Extension	9,109	6,857	2,252	75.3%
9	Side Extension	1,408	1,003	405	71.2%
10	New Build	129	89	40	69.0%
11	Garage / Parking	1,054	696	358	66.0%
12	Front Extension	181	115	66	63.5%
13	Basement	187	113	74	60.4%
14	Change of Use (Residential)	782	432	350	55.2%
15	Flat Conversion	610	311	299	51.0%
16	Annex	32	11	21	34.4%
17	HMO	437	101	336	23.1%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 81.2% approval rate. HMO? Just 23.1%.
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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 23.1% to 81.2%. 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

5,150 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 21,639 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 September 2026. Full methodology →