Data-backed planning intelligence · 2,500,000+ decisions analysed across England

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 66.5% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

21,278 real decisions·17 project types·Updated March 2026
95.0%
Safest: New Build
28.5%
Lowest: HMO
66.5%
Spread
17
Types ranked

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All 17 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1New Build40338320
95.0%
2Extension (General)40534164
84.2%
3Wraparound Extension592488104
82.4%
4Flat Conversion1,8201,481339
81.4%
5Outbuilding656533123
81.2%
6Dormer4,5493,651898
80.3%
7Conservatory1048321
79.8%
8Hip-to-Gable Conversion650514136
79.1%
9Loft Conversion4,5033,521982
78.2%
10Rear Extension7,9305,9711,959
75.3%
11Garage / Parking1,5351,124411
73.2%
12Side Extension1,4701,070400
72.8%
13Basement26818979
70.5%
14Change of Use (Residential)957651306
68.0%
15Front Extension1629864
60.5%
16Annex281315
46.4%
17HMO432123309
28.5%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A new build application has a 95.0% approval rate. HMO? Just 28.5%.
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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 28.5% to 95.0%. 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

4,447 planning applications in Waltham Forest 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 Waltham Forest planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 21,278 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 →
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