Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,290,000+ decisions analysed across England

Most Common Planning Applications in Westminster

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Westminster is 21.6% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

64,246 real decisions·16 project types·Updated June 2026
96.4%
Safest: Flat Conversion
74.8%
Lowest: HMO
21.6%
Spread
16
Types ranked

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All 16 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Flat Conversion60658422
96.4%
2Annex1091036
94.5%
3Garage / Parking2,7732,591182
93.4%
4Basement9,7419,041700
92.8%
5New Build1,3171,22097
92.6%
6Extension (General)3,3903,083307
90.9%
7Change of Use (Residential)70564164
90.9%
8Conservatory60354261
89.9%
9Front Extension53476
88.7%
10Outbuilding61154170
88.5%
11Loft Conversion3,0222,668354
88.3%
12Side Extension49543758
88.3%
13Rear Extension3,1682,777391
87.7%
14Dormer1,2141,044170
86.0%
15Wraparound Extension29227
75.9%
16HMO13510134
74.8%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A flat conversion application has a 96.4% approval rate. HMO? Just 74.8%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

1
The range is massive: 74.8% to 96.4%. 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

5,919 planning applications in Westminster 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 Westminster planning data

Nearby councils project type rankings

Methodology: Classifies 64,246 decisions in Westminster 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 Westminster Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to present. Full methodology →
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