Approval rates vary significantly by what you are applying for. An extension is almost always approved. A new build faces much tougher scrutiny. Here is how the numbers break down across 80,000+ Isle of Man planning decisions, using data from PlanningPortal.im.

Approval Rates by Proposal Type

Proposal Type Applications Approval Rate
Alteration 10,360 94.6%
Extension 9,479 93.1%
Outbuilding 2,696 89.4%
Other 1,755 91.0%
Replacement 1,360 87.9%
Access 1,115 87.9%
Conversion 1,801 86.1%
Change of Use 2,482 87.0%
Retrospective 1,240 83.0%
New Build 3,560 69.9%

Extensions and alterations to existing properties sit above 93%. New builds come in at 69.9%, the lowest category. Retrospective applications (for work already done) are at 83%, lower than most people expect.

Change of use sits at 87% overall, though the specific use matters a lot. Agricultural to residential, for example, tends to be more contentious than commercial to retail.

If you are researching comparable approved applications before submitting, PlanningPortal.im lets you filter by proposal type, parish, and street.

Data from Isle of Man Government / DEFA via PlanningPortal.im.