Cambridge planning approval rate

Cambridge council approved 90.4% of planning applications and refused 9.6%, based on 5,770 decisions analysed. Ranked 107th out of 221 councils for strictness.

Last updated: March 2026 · Based on decisions from January 2020 to present

90.4%

overall approval rate

5,770

Decisions analysed

5,218

Approved

552

Refused

Wards covered

Planning in Cambridge? Check your postcode to see approval rates specific to your ward and street.

Approval rate by application type

Different application types have different approval rates in Cambridge. Householder and full planning applications typically have the highest volume.

Full (2,638 decided)

90.1%

Trees (1,717 decided)

97.1%

Other (396 decided)

83.1%

Discharge of Conditions (362 decided)

65.7%

Listed Building (273 decided)

96.3%

Certificate of Lawfulness (193 decided)

100.0%

Prior Approval (94 decided)

63.8%

Advertisement (73 decided)

98.6%

Change of Use (24 decided)

70.8%

Approval rate by project type

These rates are based on what homeowners are actually building in Cambridge — mined from 5,770 proposal descriptions.

Rear Extension (1,044 decided)

93.1%

Garage / Parking (736 decided)

89.4%

Side Extension (556 decided)

91.7%

Outbuilding (344 decided)

93.3%

Extension (General) (272 decided)

89.3%

Dormer (261 decided)

93.1%

Loft Conversion (249 decided)

87.6%

Front Extension (237 decided)

91.6%

Change of Use (Residential) (228 decided)

70.6%

New Build (221 decided)

78.7%

Wraparound Extension (158 decided)

93.0%

Conservatory (135 decided)

96.3%

Annex (107 decided)

86.9%

Basement (48 decided)

95.8%

HMO (30 decided)

60.0%

Hip-to-Gable Conversion (25 decided)

100.0%

Approval rate by ward

Planning outcomes vary significantly by ward within Cambridge. Click any ward for detailed statistics.

Shelford (270 decided)

88.9%

Market (263 decided)

95.8%

Harston & Comberton (257 decided)

91.8%

Newnham (238 decided)

96.2%

Trumpington (233 decided)

95.3%

Fen Ditton & Fulbourn (215 decided)

90.2%

Linton (204 decided)

84.8%

Queen Ediths (202 decided)

87.1%

Histon & Impington (182 decided)

92.9%

Melbourn (181 decided)

85.1%

Castle (177 decided)

91.5%

West Chesterton (170 decided)

90.0%

Petersfield (168 decided)

93.5%

Milton & Waterbeach (160 decided)

95.0%

Caxton & Papworth (160 decided)

93.1%

Duxford (150 decided)

91.3%

Romsey (144 decided)

90.3%

Foxton (142 decided)

87.3%

Over & Willingham (142 decided)

90.8%

Girton (138 decided)

91.3%

Wards in Cambridge

Shelford

88.9% approval · 270 decisions

Market

95.8% approval · 263 decisions

Harston & Comberton

91.8% approval · 257 decisions

Newnham

96.2% approval · 238 decisions

Trumpington

95.3% approval · 233 decisions

Fen Ditton & Fulbourn

90.2% approval · 215 decisions

Linton

84.8% approval · 204 decisions

Queen Ediths

87.1% approval · 202 decisions

Histon & Impington

92.9% approval · 182 decisions

Melbourn

85.1% approval · 181 decisions

Castle

91.5% approval · 177 decisions

West Chesterton

90.0% approval · 170 decisions

Petersfield

93.5% approval · 168 decisions

Milton & Waterbeach

95.0% approval · 160 decisions

Caxton & Papworth

93.1% approval · 160 decisions

Duxford

91.3% approval · 150 decisions

Romsey

90.3% approval · 144 decisions

Foxton

87.3% approval · 142 decisions

Over & Willingham

90.8% approval · 142 decisions

Girton

91.3% approval · 138 decisions

Recent comparable decisions

The most recent residential planning decisions in Cambridge, showing how the council decides real applications.

21/00919/HFUL

Roof extension incorporating rear dormer and part two storey, part single storey · Cherry Hinton · Fri 23 Apr 2021

Approved

21/00870/HFUL

Single storey side extension following demolition of existing conservatory · Caxton & Papworth · Fri 23 Apr 2021

Approved

21/00619/S73

Removal of condition 4 (agricultural occupation) of planning permission C/0439/6 · Cottenham · Fri 23 Apr 2021

Approved

Showing 3 of 200 comparable decisions. See all 200 in the Pro Report →

What gets approved near your property?

In Cambridge, 1 in 10 applications are refused. Your PlanningLens Pro Report gives you 17 pages of intelligence specific to your property:

✓ Ward-level approval rates for your exact area
✓ Common refusal reasons in Cambridge
✓ Your 10 nearest comparable planning decisions
✓ Appeal success rates
✓ PDF report to share with your architect

Get Cambridge Pro Report — £79

Less than one set of revised drawings. Based on 5,770 decisions.

Compare with nearby councils

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