Islington vs Westminster — planning approval compared
How do planning outcomes differ between Islington and Westminster? A side-by-side comparison based on 145,927 combined decisions.
Last updated: April 2026
Islington: 82.8%
85,229 decisions · 70,553 approved · 14,676 refused · 80 wards
Westminster: 90.8%
60,698 decisions · 55,135 approved · 5,563 refused · 99 wards
Overall approval rates
Islington
82.8%
Westminster
90.8%
By application type
Advertisement — Islington
93.3%
Certificate of Lawfulness — Islington
90.0%
Discharge of Conditions — Islington
87.5%
Full — Islington
81.9%
Listed Building — Islington
88.2%
Other — Islington
82.8%
Other — Westminster
90.9%
Prior Approval — Islington
56.6%
Prior Approval — Westminster
77.4%
Trees — Islington
100.0%
What the numbers mean
There is a 8.0 percentage point difference in overall approval rates between these councils. Islington is the stricter of the two, which means similar applications may face higher refusal rates there. However, approval rates vary by ward and application type, so your specific situation may differ from the averages.
Planning in your area? Check your postcode to see approval rates specific to your ward and street.