Which ward in Bristol has the highest planning approval rate?

Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze at 90.4% based on 2,126 decisions.

Which ward in Bristol has the lowest planning approval rate?

Hartcliffe & Withywood at 79.3% based on 386 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Bristol?

There is a 11.1% gap between Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze and Hartcliffe & Withywood. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Bristol

Planning outcomes in Bristol are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 11.1% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

17,284 real decisions·34 wards·Updated September 2026

All 34 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze	2,126	1,921	205	90.4%
2	Stoke Bishop	1,296	1,167	129	90.0%
3	Bishopsworth	525	470	55	89.5%
4	Hengrove & Whitchurch Park	615	546	69	88.8%
5	Clifton	1,550	1,372	178	88.5%
6	Brislington East	503	444	59	88.3%
7	Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston	1,046	921	125	88.0%
8	Central	1,964	1,729	235	88.0%
9	Henbury & Brentry	478	420	58	87.9%
10	Cotham	786	690	96	87.8%
11	Bishopston & Ashley Down	830	728	102	87.7%
12	Windmill Hill	622	545	77	87.6%
13	Bedminster	752	658	94	87.5%
14	Knowle	646	565	81	87.5%
15	Brislington West	636	556	80	87.4%
16	Clifton Down	1,005	876	129	87.2%
17	Redland	1,014	883	131	87.1%
18	St George West	261	227	34	87.0%
19	Easton	593	515	78	86.8%
20	Lawrence Hill	814	706	108	86.7%
21	Lockleaze	618	532	86	86.1%
22	Hotwells & Harbourside	553	475	78	85.9%
23	Eastville	617	527	90	85.4%
24	St George Central	490	418	72	85.3%
25	Stockwood	418	356	62	85.2%
26	Southville	949	805	144	84.8%
27	Ashley	1,168	981	187	84.0%
28	Southmead	413	346	67	83.8%
29	Horfield	692	577	115	83.4%
30	Filwood	333	275	58	82.6%
31	Frome Vale	752	620	132	82.4%
32	St George Troopers Hill	215	177	38	82.3%
33	Hillfields	537	439	98	81.8%
34	Hartcliffe & Withywood	386	306	80	79.3%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

An extension might sail through in Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze but face serious resistance in Hartcliffe & Withywood.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

A 11.1% gap separates the best and worst wards. Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze approves 90.4% of applications while Hartcliffe & Withywood approves just 79.3%. 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

2,527 planning applications in Bristol have been refused since 2020. Many of those homeowners had already paid for drawings and application fees. A free, property-specific report shows you what gets approved — and what gets refused — near your property.

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More Bristol planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 17,284 planning decisions in Bristol, January 2020 to September 2026. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid excluded. Ward boundaries reflect current electoral divisions. Data from Bristol Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →