Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,780,000+ 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 22.8% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

65,586 real decisions·16 project types·Updated August 2026
96.4%
Safest: Flat Conversion
73.6%
Lowest: HMO
22.8%
Spread
16
Types ranked

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All 16 project types ranked

#TypeDecisionsApprovedRefusedRate
1Flat Conversion60658422
96.4%
2Annex1111047
93.7%
3Garage / Parking2,8132,630183
93.5%
4Basement9,8479,135712
92.8%
5New Build1,3291,23198
92.6%
6Change of Use (Residential)70664561
91.4%
7Extension (General)3,4353,123312
90.9%
8Conservatory61355162
89.9%
9Outbuilding62455272
88.5%
10Loft Conversion3,0462,692354
88.4%
11Side Extension50744760
88.2%
12Rear Extension3,2182,817401
87.5%
13Front Extension54477
87.0%
14Dormer1,2521,078174
86.1%
15Wraparound Extension29236
79.3%
16HMO14010337
73.6%
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 73.6%.
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: 73.6% 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

6,034 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 65,586 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 August 2026. Full methodology →
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