Planning applications in Argyll

Planning in Argyll

The picture for Argyll and Bute is still taking shape, because we hold a shorter run of decisions here. What it shows so far is a very lenient council: only 23 of the decided applications were refused, which works out at about 1 in 51, compared with about 1 in 7 across the areas we cover. Treat the figures below as a first guide rather than a long record.

Windows and doors are the most common project, with 266 applications, and they are refused about 1 in 52 times, about the same as the council overall. Garden rooms and outbuildings come next with 206 applications and are refused about 1 in 20 times, a bit more often than the council as a whole but far less often than the 1 in 7 seen nationally. Driveways and dropped kerbs, with 178 applications, are refused about 1 in 42 times, and solar panels about 1 in 50.

Extensions are a smaller part of the picture here. There are only 59 rear extensions, and they are the project most likely to be refused of the common ones, at about 1 in 11, which is still better than the 1 in 7 seen across the areas we cover. Fences, walls and gates are refused about 1 in 30 times. For loft conversions, side extensions and front extensions and porches there are too few decided applications to give a rate.

With numbers this small, one or two refusals can move a percentage a long way, so the practical advice is simple: look at what has been approved close to your own address, particularly if you are planning a rear extension, where the rate is the least settled. For the everyday jobs of replacing windows and doors, adding solar panels or creating a driveway, the record so far is very good.

Figures in this section as of 9 October 2026.