Which ward in Cambridge has the highest planning approval rate?

- at 100.0% based on 12 decisions.

Which ward in Cambridge has the lowest planning approval rate?

Cherry Hinton at 83.3% based on 90 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Cambridge?

There is a 16.7% gap between - and Cherry Hinton. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Cambridge

Planning outcomes in Cambridge are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 16.7% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

5,770 real decisions·43 wards·Updated March 2026

All 43 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	-	12	12	0	100.0%
2	Orwell And Barrington	16	16	0	100.0%
3	Newnham	238	229	9	96.2%
4	Market	263	252	11	95.8%
5	Trumpington	233	222	11	95.3%
6	Milton & Waterbeach	160	152	8	95.0%
7	Kings Hedges	39	37	2	94.9%
8	Whittlesford	120	113	7	94.2%
9	Petersfield	168	157	11	93.5%
10	Swavesey	77	72	5	93.5%
11	Caxton & Papworth	160	149	11	93.1%
12	Hardwick	87	81	6	93.1%
13	Histon & Impington	182	169	13	92.9%
14	The Mordens	132	122	10	92.4%
15	Longstanton	105	97	8	92.4%
16	Cambourne	76	70	6	92.1%
17	Harston & Comberton	257	236	21	91.8%
18	Castle	177	162	15	91.5%
19	Duxford	150	137	13	91.3%
20	Girton	138	126	12	91.3%
21	East Chesterton	99	90	9	90.9%
22	Over & Willingham	142	129	13	90.8%
23	Romsey	144	130	14	90.3%
24	Fen Ditton & Fulbourn	215	194	21	90.2%
25	West Chesterton	170	153	17	90.0%
26	Milton (Detached)	10	9	1	90.0%
27	Caldecote	116	104	12	89.7%
28	Shelford	270	240	30	88.9%
29	Balsham	105	92	13	87.6%
30	Foxton	142	124	18	87.3%
31	Queen Ediths	202	176	26	87.1%
32	Barrington	106	92	14	86.8%
33	Cottenham	135	117	18	86.7%
34	Arbury	105	91	14	86.7%
35	Abbey	118	102	16	86.4%
36	Coleridge	113	97	16	85.8%
37	Melbourn	181	154	27	85.1%
38	Bar Hill	20	17	3	85.0%
39	Sawston	93	79	14	84.9%
40	Bassingbourn	106	90	16	84.9%
41	Linton	204	173	31	84.8%
42	Gamlingay	89	75	14	84.3%
43	Cherry Hinton	90	75	15	83.3%

See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

A 16.7% gap separates the best and worst wards. - approves 100.0% of applications while Cherry Hinton approves just 83.3%. 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

552 planning applications in Cambridge 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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Free instant check · Pro Report £79 · Based on 2,500,000+ real decisions

More Cambridge planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 5,770 planning decisions in Cambridge, January 2020 to present. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid excluded. Ward boundaries reflect current electoral divisions. Data from Cambridge Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →