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What kind of work gets planning permission
1,226,267 applications sorted by the work actually proposed, with how often each kind is approved. If you are wondering whether your loft conversion will go through, this is the national answer.
| Kind of work | Applications ▼ | Approved | Refused | Who does this work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extensions | 426,021 | 82.3% of 312,123 | 55,291 | Architect, builder, structural engineer |
| Loft conversions | 200,198 | 82.6% of 165,589 | 28,857 | Architect, structural engineer, loft specialist |
| Tree works | 125,300 | 91% of 86,329 | 7,759 | Arboriculturist, tree surgeon |
| Windows and doors | 91,023 | 90.3% of 71,513 | 6,911 | Joiner, glazier, conservation specialist |
| Outbuildings and annexes | 78,446 | 82.6% of 48,121 | 8,394 | Builder, garden room specialist |
| Change of use | 73,539 | 81% of 49,856 | 9,482 | Planning consultant, architect |
| New dwellings | 52,031 | 80.9% of 38,340 | 7,310 | Architect, planning consultant, developer |
| Demolition | 51,553 | 88.3% of 39,569 | 4,620 | Demolition contractor, structural engineer |
| Advertisements and signage | 31,318 | 84.7% of 21,657 | 3,305 | Signage contractor |
| Walls, fences and driveways | 27,673 | 82.4% of 18,503 | 3,264 | Groundworker, landscaper |
| Commercial premises | 25,618 | 89.3% of 14,913 | 1,592 | Commercial architect, planning consultant |
| Roofing | 19,197 | 86.4% of 14,618 | 1,995 | Roofer |
| Listed building consent | 11,196 | 92.1% of 8,424 | 668 | Conservation architect, heritage consultant |
| Solar, heat pumps and EV | 6,727 | 88.7% of 4,989 | 564 | Renewables installer, MCS-certified contractor |
| Telecoms | 6,427 | 70.7% of 3,712 | 1,086 | Telecoms contractor |
How to read these
The approval rate is of decided applications — an application still in progress is not counted as a refusal, which would drag every recent year down artificially. Withdrawn applications are excluded from the rate and shown separately in the underlying data.
408,317 applications (25%) describe work that does not fall into any of these categories, and are simply left out rather than pushed into the nearest bucket.
Coverage follows the planning data: London in full, plus the councils that publish openly. See who publishes this and on what terms.