Rear extensions are the bread and butter of UK planning — and one of the most common reasons homeowners face a refusal. Here's what 2,520 real decisions tell us about rear extension outcomes in York.
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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 | Decisions | Approved | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rural West York | 7 | 7 | 100.0% |
| 2 | Heworth | 6 | 6 | 100.0% |
| 3 | Dringhouses And Woodthorpe | 5 | 4 | 80.0% |
| 4 | Rawcliffe And Clifton Without | 9 | 7 | 77.8% |
A rear extension has a 100.0% approval rate in Rural West York but just 77.8% in Rawcliffe And Clifton Without.
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Not all applications are treated equally. Here's how rear extensions stack up against other common projects in York.
| Type | Decisions | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Conservatory | 320 | 95.9% |
| Wraparound Extension | 536 | 95.0% |
| Rear Extension | 2,520 | 94.0% |
| Side Extension | 1,662 | 93.3% |
| Hip-to-Gable Conversion | 165 | 92.7% |
| Front Extension | 364 | 92.3% |
| Garage / Parking | 1,251 | 90.6% |
| Loft Conversion | 234 | 90.2% |
| Dormer | 837 | 88.6% |
| Extension (General) | 628 | 88.5% |
| Outbuilding | 365 | 87.7% |
| Basement | 85 | 87.1% |
| Annex | 107 | 86.9% |
| HMO | 337 | 82.8% |
| Change of Use (Residential) | 546 | 77.7% |
| New Build | 450 | 75.6% |
| Flat Conversion | 23 | 60.9% |
152 rear extension applications in York 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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