What Manx planning applications are actually for
Every one of the 17,561 applications in this site's planning data — the government's full published run, which has no 2017 files — sorted by what the work is — read from each application's own description rather than from a category the applicant chose. 91% of decided applications were granted overall, across 2011–2023.
guernseyproperties.gg has a page of this name that ranks architects by the work they file most. This site cannot do that: the Isle of Man's planning open data carries no applicant or agent field — exactly one of the twenty-four government files has one, covering 2018 alone. Rather than imply a ranking of firms it has no basis for, this page answers the half the data does support, which is the half a homeowner is asking about: what kind of work gets applied for here, and how often each kind is granted.
Work type is inferred by keyword from the application's own description, so a project that is several things at once lands in the first category that matches. Treat the counts as a strong shape, not an exact census. Grant rates are hidden below 25 decided applications, where a percentage would be noise.
| Type of work | Applications | Granted | Refused | Grant rate | Trend | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internal alteration / change of use e.g. “Change of Use from Offices to 4 no Residential Flats” |
7,953 | 6,758 | 755 | 90% | -2% | £17,700–£47,200 |
| Single-storey extension e.g. “Extension to existing stables (retrospective)” |
3,929 | 3,602 | 252 | 93% | +6% | £53,100–£88,500 |
| Garage / outbuilding / annexe e.g. “Demolition of two garages and construction of new garage” |
1,341 | 1,125 | 152 | 88% | +11% | £29,500–£53,100 |
| Window / door replacement e.g. “Installation of replacement windows and replacement front door” |
1,238 | 1,106 | 88 | 93% | +2% | £9,440–£23,600 |
| Re-roofing e.g. “Alterations including removal of fixed glazing units with the installation of two new Pyramid rooflights” |
1,129 | 1,079 | 19 | 98% | -32% | £14,160–£29,500 |
| Two-storey extension e.g. “Replacement two storey extension to rear elevation and single storey extension adjacent” |
628 | 562 | 62 | 90% | -22% | £106,200–£177,000 |
| Boundary / access works e.g. “RB consent for the demolition of wall between the front garden and side access lane as approved in PA22/00323/” |
330 | 266 | 43 | 86% | +23% | £5,900–£17,700 |
| Loft conversion e.g. “Replace existing timber dormer windows with double-glazed white uPVC windows” |
328 | 279 | 44 | 86% | -6% | £53,100–£76,700 |
| Summerhouse / small garden structure e.g. “Demolition of existing and erection of a replacement summerhouse to front garden” |
283 | 236 | 36 | 87% | -30% | £9,440–£21,240 |
| Porch e.g. “Alteration of window and installation of porch to north-east elevation” |
233 | 227 | 4 | 98% | +40% | £7,080–£14,160 |
| Solar / renewables e.g. “Erection of an agricultural polytunnel, erection of a workshop with attached equipment store, installation of ” |
139 | 131 | 7 | 95% | +8% | £9,440–£17,700 |
| Demolish & rebuild dwelling e.g. “Demolish portion of existing garage and construct single storey extension on East gable wall of existing dwell” |
16 | 14 | 2 | too few | — | £2,596–£3,776 per m² of new build (total depends on floor area — not stated in the planning record) |
| Swimming pool e.g. “Approval in principle for the erection of a sports centre comprising 50m swimming pool, 60m running track, spo” |
14 | 11 | 1 | too few | — | £53,100–£106,200 |
Trend compares 2021–23 against 2018–20 and is shown only where the earlier period had at least 20 applications. Withdrawn applications are excluded from the grant rate — they were never decided, and counting them as refusals would understate every category. Costs use the same model as the rest of the site: UK build-cost guides with the Isle of Man's 18% uplift, excluding VAT and fees.
Where to take this next
Planning precedent breaks the same data down by outcome and lets you search it. Appeals is the sequel to a refusal — 41% of refused applications that went to appeal were overturned. What improvements are worth puts a value against the cost.