Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Watford is 12.1% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.
See your ward's approval rate and nearby planning decisions — free and instant.
| # | Type | Decisions | Approved | Refused | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Build | 145 | 145 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 2 | Annex | 31 | 31 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 3 | Front Extension | 187 | 186 | 1 | 99.5% |
| 4 | Wraparound Extension | 173 | 172 | 1 | 99.4% |
| 5 | Side Extension | 623 | 604 | 19 | 97.0% |
| 6 | Conservatory | 108 | 104 | 4 | 96.3% |
| 7 | Garage / Parking | 526 | 504 | 22 | 95.8% |
| 8 | Basement | 24 | 23 | 1 | 95.8% |
| 9 | Outbuilding | 259 | 243 | 16 | 93.8% |
| 10 | HMO | 64 | 59 | 5 | 92.2% |
| 11 | Dormer | 695 | 635 | 60 | 91.4% |
| 12 | Hip-to-Gable Conversion | 240 | 218 | 22 | 90.8% |
| 13 | Loft Conversion | 657 | 594 | 63 | 90.4% |
| 14 | Rear Extension | 1,650 | 1,485 | 165 | 90.0% |
| 15 | Extension (General) | 162 | 145 | 17 | 89.5% |
| 16 | Flat Conversion | 25 | 22 | 3 | 88.0% |
| 17 | Change of Use (Residential) | 165 | 145 | 20 | 87.9% |
A new build application has a 100.0% approval rate. Change of Use (Residential)? Just 87.9%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.
418 planning applications in Watford 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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