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?

Coleridge at 87.3% based on 157 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Cambridge?

There is a 12.7% gap between - and Coleridge. 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 12.7% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

8,530 real decisions·43 wards·Updated August 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	400	388	12	97.0%
4	Kings Hedges	59	57	2	96.6%
5	Milton & Waterbeach	247	238	9	96.4%
6	Trumpington	304	293	11	96.4%
7	Market	448	432	16	96.4%
8	Whittlesford	182	175	7	96.2%
9	Petersfield	273	262	11	96.0%
10	Swavesey	115	110	5	95.7%
11	Cambourne	115	109	6	94.8%
12	Histon & Impington	270	256	14	94.8%
13	Hardwick	112	106	6	94.6%
14	Harston & Comberton	372	351	21	94.4%
15	Castle	270	255	15	94.4%
16	Longstanton	143	135	8	94.4%
17	Caxton & Papworth	230	217	13	94.3%
18	East Chesterton	149	140	9	94.0%
19	Fen Ditton & Fulbourn	353	331	22	93.8%
20	Girton	194	182	12	93.8%
21	West Chesterton	274	257	17	93.8%
22	Duxford	242	226	16	93.4%
23	The Mordens	180	168	12	93.3%
24	Milton (Detached)	15	14	1	93.3%
25	Romsey	213	198	15	93.0%
26	Caldecote	162	150	12	92.6%
27	Over & Willingham	195	180	15	92.3%
28	Shelford	389	358	31	92.0%
29	Balsham	172	157	15	91.3%
30	Cottenham	197	179	18	90.9%
31	Queen Ediths	283	257	26	90.8%
32	Foxton	196	177	19	90.3%
33	Arbury	141	127	14	90.1%
34	Melbourn	261	233	28	89.3%
35	Abbey	174	155	19	89.1%
36	Sawston	136	121	15	89.0%
37	Barrington	162	144	18	88.9%
38	Bar Hill	27	24	3	88.9%
39	Gamlingay	124	110	14	88.7%
40	Bassingbourn	139	123	16	88.5%
41	Linton	287	253	34	88.2%
42	Cherry Hinton	127	112	15	88.2%
43	Coleridge	157	137	20	87.3%

See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

A 12.7% gap separates the best and worst wards. - approves 100.0% of applications while Coleridge approves just 87.3%. 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

593 planning applications in Cambridge 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 Cambridge planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 8,530 planning decisions in Cambridge, January 2020 to August 2026. 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 →