Which ward in Aberdeen has the highest planning approval rate?

Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill at 96.4% based on 877 decisions.

Which ward in Aberdeen has the lowest planning approval rate?

Northfield/Mastrick North at 92.7% based on 275 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Aberdeen?

There is a 3.7% gap between Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill and Northfield/Mastrick North. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Aberdeen

Planning outcomes in Aberdeen are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 3.7% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

21,448 real decisions·14 wards·Updated March 2026

94.3% approved overall. But 1,231 applications refused since 2020. Where you live in Aberdeen shifts your odds by up to 3.7%. The council average doesn't tell you which side of that gap you're on.

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All 14 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill	877	845	32	96.4%
2	Kincorth/Nigg/Cove	1,383	1,330	53	96.2%
3	Bridge Of Don	1,324	1,260	64	95.2%
4	Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee	1,494	1,421	73	95.1%
5	Mid Stocket/Rosemount	1,969	1,867	102	94.8%
6	Hazlehead/Queen's Cross/Countesswells	3,815	3,606	209	94.5%
7	Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone	1,863	1,751	112	94.0%
8	Torry/Ferryhill	2,172	2,034	138	93.6%
9	Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill	527	493	34	93.5%
10	Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross	15	14	1	93.3%
11	Lower Deeside	2,725	2,541	184	93.2%
12	George Street/Harbour	2,113	1,966	147	93.0%
13	Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen	887	825	62	93.0%
14	Northfield/Mastrick North	275	255	20	92.7%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

An extension might sail through in Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill but face serious resistance in Northfield/Mastrick North.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

A 3.7% gap separates the best and worst wards. Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill approves 96.4% of applications while Northfield/Mastrick North approves just 92.7%. That's a fundamentally different planning environment.

High volume doesn't mean high approval. Some of the busiest wards aren't the most permissive. The number of applications a ward processes tells you nothing about how likely yours is to succeed.

Ward averages are a starting point, not a guarantee. Your specific outcome depends on your property, your neighbours, your proposal type and the comparable decisions near your address.

Before you spend £5,000+ on architects and drawings

1,231 planning applications in Aberdeen have been refused since 2020. Many of those homeowners had already paid for drawings and application fees. A £79 report shows you what gets approved — and what gets refused — near your property.

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More Aberdeen planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 21,448 planning decisions in Aberdeen, January 2020 to present. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid excluded. Ward boundaries reflect current electoral divisions. Data from Aberdeen Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →