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

Wraparound Extension at 95.1% based on 347 decisions.

What is hardest to get planning permission for in Wirral?

HMO at 53.2% based on 62 decisions.

How do approval rates vary by project type in Wirral?

From 95.1% (Wraparound Extension) to 53.2% (HMO). What you build matters as much as where you build it.

Most Common Planning Applications in Wirral

Not all planning applications are created equal. The gap between the highest and lowest approval project type in Wirral is 41.9% — that's the difference between near-certainty and a coin flip. What you build matters as much as where you build it.

8,012 real decisions·17 project types·Updated August 2026

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All 17 project types ranked

#	Type	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Wraparound Extension	347	330	17	95.1%
2	Side Extension	1,483	1,374	109	92.7%
3	Rear Extension	2,233	2,041	192	91.4%
4	Front Extension	318	289	29	90.9%
5	Conservatory	270	244	26	90.4%
6	Extension (General)	773	685	88	88.6%
7	Garage / Parking	1,284	1,121	163	87.3%
8	Outbuilding	285	247	38	86.7%
9	Annex	71	61	10	85.9%
10	Basement	45	38	7	84.4%
11	Dormer	575	470	105	81.7%
12	Loft Conversion	261	211	50	80.8%
13	Change of Use (Residential)	440	346	94	78.6%
14	New Build	342	261	81	76.3%
15	Hip-to-Gable Conversion	74	56	18	75.7%
16	Flat Conversion	73	54	19	74.0%
17	HMO	62	33	29	53.2%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A wraparound extension application has a 95.1% approval rate. HMO? Just 53.2%.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

The range is massive: 53.2% to 95.1%. 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

993 planning applications in Wirral 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 Wirral planning data

Methodology: Classifies 8,012 decisions in Wirral 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 Wirral Council's public planning portal, January 2020 to August 2026. Full methodology →