Aberdeen Council approves 94.2% of planning applications, based on 21,892 real decisions analysed from the council’s public planning portal. The national average across all councils tracked by PlanningLens is 88.6%. Aberdeen sits 5.6 percentage points above the national average.
According to PlanningLens analysis of 801 decided applications, Aberdeen Council approved 94.0% of planning applications in 2025. Across 21,892 decisions analysed since January 2020, the overall approval rate in Aberdeen is 94.2%; the national average across UK councils tracked by PlanningLens is 88.6%.
Source: PlanningLens (planninglens.co.uk) analysis of Aberdeen council planning portal records · Updated August 2026 · Quote freely with attribution
Enter your postcode for a free, personalised approval pattern report, based on your ward and application type.
Not all applications are treated equally. Extension types, listed building consent, and change of use applications each have very different success rates in Aberdeen.
| Application Type | Approved | Refused | Total | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 20,467 | 1,248 | 21,715 | 94.3% |
| Listed Building | 73 | 8 | 81 | 90.1% |
| Advertisement | 45 | 10 | 55 | 81.8% |
| Prior Approval | 34 | 2 | 36 | 94.4% |
| Trees | 4 | 0 | 4 | 100.0% |
A loft conversion in one ward can have a 90% approval rate. In the next ward, 55%. The free check tells you which side you're on, your free property report is emailed in minutes.
Check My PostcodeWard-level data reveals where planning applications are most and least likely to succeed. Officers, local policies, and neighbourhood character all play a role.
| Ward | Approved | Refused | Total | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazlehead/Queen's Cross/Countesswells | 3,682 | 215 | 3,897 | 94.5% |
| Lower Deeside | 2,585 | 186 | 2,771 | 93.3% |
| Torry/Ferryhill | 2,080 | 142 | 2,222 | 93.6% |
| George Street/Harbour | 2,026 | 156 | 2,182 | 92.9% |
| Mid Stocket/Rosemount | 1,925 | 109 | 2,034 | 94.6% |
| Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone | 1,770 | 115 | 1,885 | 93.9% |
| Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee | 1,438 | 76 | 1,514 | 95.0% |
| Kincorth/Nigg/Cove | 1,352 | 54 | 1,406 | 96.2% |
| Bridge Of Don | 1,280 | 64 | 1,344 | 95.2% |
| Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen | 846 | 64 | 910 | 93.0% |
| Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill | 859 | 32 | 891 | 96.4% |
| Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill | 499 | 34 | 533 | 93.6% |
| Northfield/Mastrick North | 258 | 21 | 279 | 92.5% |
| Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross | 14 | 1 | 15 | 93.3% |
How Aberdeen’s planning approval rate has changed year by year, down 2.2pp since 2018.
Bar height reflects approval rate. Colour: green ≥85%, amber ≥70%, red below 70%.
Real residential planning decisions from Aberdeen council. Each reference links to the council's own planning portal so you can verify the details yourself.
| Reference | Proposal | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| 251010/DPP Hazlehead/Queen's Cross/Countesswells | Installation of external 22mm gas pipe to front (retrospective) | Approved |
| 260637/DPP Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone | Remove existing roofing, and replace with composite metal cladding panel system | Approved |
| 260518/DPP Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone | Erection of a canopy walkway on two elevations of the existing gatehouse, works | Approved |
| 260671/LBC Torry/Ferryhill | Formation of door from an existing window opening to rear and internal alteratio | Approved |
| 260628/DPP Hazlehead/Queen's Cross/Countesswells | Installation of modular ramp with balustrade to front | Approved |
| 260617/DPP Torry/Ferryhill | Formation of door from an existing window opening to rear | Approved |
| 260214/DPP Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill | Formation of dormers to front/rear, and raised patio to rear | Approved |
| 260456/DPP Hazlehead/Queen's Cross/Countesswells | Change of use from offices to dwellinghouse including erection of garage and for | Approved |
| 260353/LBC Hazlehead/Queen's Cross/Countesswells | Internal alterations including installation of accessible lift; formation of wal | Approved |
| 260260/DPP Mid Stocket/Rosemount | Change of use of flat to short-term let accommodation with maximum occupancy of | Refused |
Find out what actually gets approved near your address first. Your free property report analyses the 20 nearest decisions to your property, ward-specific refusal patterns, and extension-by-extension approval patterns. Based on Aberdeen's 21,892 real decisions. Free, emailed in minutes.
Check my postcodeCompare Aberdeen's planning approval rates with neighbouring areas:
Dig deeper into Aberdeen's planning statistics, by ward, extension type, or project category:
Data-driven guides to help you understand planning approval patterns:
Yes. PlanningLens offers a free planning permission check for Aberdeen. Enter your postcode to instantly see approval rates for your ward and application type, based on 21,892 real decisions from Aberdeen council. The full property-specific report is also free and emailed within minutes.
Enter your postcode on PlanningLens for a free instant check based on Aberdeen's real planning decisions. The free property report goes further: it analyses the 20 nearest comparable decisions to your property, ward-level refusal patterns, and approval rates by application type. Free and emailed within minutes.
Based on 21,892 planning decisions, the overall approval rate in Aberdeen is 94.2%. The national average across councils tracked by PlanningLens is 88.6%. Rates vary significantly by ward and application type.
PlanningLens has analysed 21,892 planning decisions from Aberdeen council. 20,623 were approved and 1,269 were refused. These figures cover decisions from January 2020 to the present.
The average approval rate in Aberdeen is 94.2%, but outcomes depend heavily on your specific ward, the type of extension or development you are proposing, and local planning policy. Use the free PlanningLens postcode check to get a personalised score.
Writing about planning in Aberdeen? These figures are free to republish with attribution. Copy the one-line citation, or paste the stat box into any website, CMS or newsletter, it carries its own styling and links back to this page for verification.