Data-backed planning intelligence · 3,230,000+ decisions analysed across England

Rear Extension Approval Rates in Woking

Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 978 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in Woking.

978 real decisions·January 2020 to present·Updated June 2026
81.1%
Approval Rate
978
Decisions
793
Approved
185
Refused
81.1% approved. But 185 refused since 2020. Each refusal cost the homeowner time and money on drawings and application fees. Understanding your local data before you apply is the difference between confidence and a costly gamble.

Check Planning Approval Patterns in Woking

See your ward's approval rate and nearby planning decisions — free and instant.

Check My Postcode

Why rear extension approval rates matter

Rear extensions sit in the middle of the pack nationally. They're common enough that councils have clear precedent — but that cuts both ways. If your neighbours have been refused, that precedent works against you too.

Ward gap in Woking: Heathlands approves 100.0% of rear extension applications while Hoe Valley sits at 66.7%. That 33.3% gap means your postcode is one of the strongest indicators of outcome.

Rear Extension approval rate by ward

#WardDecisionsApprovedRate
1Heathlands66
100.0%
2Byfleet And West Byfleet99
100.0%
3Knaphill55
100.0%
4Canalside66
100.0%
5Horsell1412
85.7%
6Pyrford97
77.8%
7Hoe Valley64
66.7%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

A rear extension has a 100.0% approval rate in Heathlands but just 66.7% in Hoe Valley.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

Check My Postcode

How rear extensions compare to other project types

Not all applications are treated equally. Here's how rear extensions stack up against other common projects in Woking.

TypeDecisionsRate
Flat Conversion35
97.1%
Basement34
94.1%
Extension (General)123
87.8%
Conservatory202
87.6%
Garage / Parking790
83.7%
Wraparound Extension267
83.1%
Side Extension598
81.9%
New Build220
81.8%
Rear Extension978
81.1%
Front Extension266
80.1%
Dormer284
79.2%
Outbuilding321
76.9%
Hip-to-Gable Conversion51
76.5%
Loft Conversion91
73.6%
Change of Use (Residential)162
71.6%
Annex22
59.1%
See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

1
81.1% of rear extension applications in Woking get approved. That means 185 homeowners since 2020 have been refused. Not terrible odds, but not a foregone conclusion.
2
Your ward matters more than you think. The 33.3% gap between Heathlands (100.0%) and Hoe Valley (66.7%) means your postcode is one of the strongest indicators of outcome.
3
Council averages are starting points, not guarantees. The decisions that matter most are the comparable ones near your specific property — because planning officers look at precedent, character and the immediate context of your street.

Before you spend £5,000+ on architects and drawings

185 rear extension applications in Woking 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.

Check my postcode
Free · Property report emailed in minutes · Based on 3,230,000+ real decisions

More Woking planning data

Methodology: Based on 978 planning decisions classified as rear extensions in Woking, January 2020 to present. Classification uses keyword matching against proposal descriptions (matching generate_site_data.py rules). A single application may appear in multiple categories. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid applications excluded. Data from Woking Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →
Check planning approval patterns in Woking — Free