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 87.0% based on 154 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Cambridge?

There is a 13.0% 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 13.0% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

8,253 real decisions·43 wards·Updated June 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	388	376	12	96.9%
4	Kings Hedges	58	56	2	96.6%
5	Market	426	411	15	96.5%
6	Trumpington	300	289	11	96.3%
7	Milton & Waterbeach	236	227	9	96.2%
8	Whittlesford	174	167	7	96.0%
9	Petersfield	264	253	11	95.8%
10	Swavesey	113	108	5	95.6%
11	Cambourne	113	107	6	94.7%
12	Histon & Impington	259	245	14	94.6%
13	Longstanton	142	134	8	94.4%
14	Hardwick	108	102	6	94.4%
15	Caxton & Papworth	227	214	13	94.3%
16	Harston & Comberton	360	339	21	94.2%
17	Castle	250	235	15	94.0%
18	East Chesterton	143	134	9	93.7%
19	Girton	188	176	12	93.6%
20	West Chesterton	264	247	17	93.6%
21	Fen Ditton & Fulbourn	339	317	22	93.5%
22	Romsey	209	195	14	93.3%
23	Milton (Detached)	15	14	1	93.3%
24	The Mordens	177	165	12	93.2%
25	Duxford	233	217	16	93.1%
26	Caldecote	158	146	12	92.4%
27	Over & Willingham	190	175	15	92.1%
28	Shelford	376	345	31	91.8%
29	Balsham	167	153	14	91.6%
30	Cottenham	190	172	18	90.5%
31	Queen Ediths	269	243	26	90.3%
32	Foxton	193	174	19	90.2%
33	Arbury	136	122	14	89.7%
34	Abbey	170	152	18	89.4%
35	Melbourn	252	225	27	89.3%
36	Bar Hill	27	24	3	88.9%
37	Sawston	134	119	15	88.8%
38	Barrington	161	143	18	88.8%
39	Gamlingay	121	107	14	88.4%
40	Bassingbourn	133	117	16	88.0%
41	Linton	276	242	34	87.7%
42	Cherry Hinton	122	107	15	87.7%
43	Coleridge	154	134	20	87.0%

See how this applies to your postcode →

What the data tells us

A 13.0% gap separates the best and worst wards. - approves 100.0% of applications while Coleridge approves just 87.0%. 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

588 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 8,253 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 →