City of Edinburgh planning approval rate
City of Edinburgh council approved 89.8% of planning applications and refused 10.2%, based on 34,504 decisions analysed. Ranked 98th out of 237 councils for strictness.
Last updated: May 2026 · Based on decisions from January 2020 to present
89.8%
overall approval rate
Planning in City of Edinburgh?
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 City of Edinburgh. Householder and full planning applications typically have the highest volume.
Approval rate by project type
These rates are based on what homeowners are actually building in City of Edinburgh — mined from 34,504 proposal descriptions.
Approval rate by ward
Planning outcomes vary significantly by ward within City of Edinburgh. Click any ward for detailed statistics.
City Centre (4,142 decided)
80.0%
City Centre (Pre May 2017) (3,230 decided)
92.4%
Inverleith (1,477 decided)
86.3%
Southside/Newington (1,472 decided)
85.8%
Southside/Newington (Pre May 2017) (1,425 decided)
94.2%
Inverleith (Pre May 2017) (1,419 decided)
93.6%
No Ward Number (1,396 decided)
98.2%
Meadows/Morningside (Pre May 2017) (1,362 decided)
93.1%
Morningside (1,256 decided)
88.2%
Almond (1,217 decided)
92.0%
Almond (Pre May 2017) (970 decided)
94.2%
Corstorphine/Murrayfield (932 decided)
92.7%
Portobello/Craigmillar (871 decided)
89.2%
Colinton/Fairmilehead (796 decided)
94.0%
Corstorphine/Murrayfield (Pre May 2017) (795 decided)
95.2%
Colinton/Fairmilehead (Pre May 2017) (785 decided)
93.9%
Pentland Hills (Pre May 2017) (744 decided)
93.5%
Leith Walk (732 decided)
73.4%
Pentland Hills (730 decided)
93.7%
Portobello/Craigmillar (Pre May 2017) (725 decided)
90.8%
Wards in City of Edinburgh
City Centre
80.0% approval · 4,142 decisions
City Centre (Pre May 2017)
92.4% approval · 3,230 decisions
Inverleith
86.3% approval · 1,477 decisions
Southside/Newington
85.8% approval · 1,472 decisions
Southside/Newington (Pre May 2017)
94.2% approval · 1,425 decisions
Inverleith (Pre May 2017)
93.6% approval · 1,419 decisions
No Ward Number
98.2% approval · 1,396 decisions
Meadows/Morningside (Pre May 2017)
93.1% approval · 1,362 decisions
Morningside
88.2% approval · 1,256 decisions
Almond
92.0% approval · 1,217 decisions
Almond (Pre May 2017)
94.2% approval · 970 decisions
Corstorphine/Murrayfield
92.7% approval · 932 decisions
Portobello/Craigmillar
89.2% approval · 871 decisions
Colinton/Fairmilehead
94.0% approval · 796 decisions
Corstorphine/Murrayfield (Pre May 2017)
95.2% approval · 795 decisions
Colinton/Fairmilehead (Pre May 2017)
93.9% approval · 785 decisions
Pentland Hills (Pre May 2017)
93.5% approval · 744 decisions
Leith Walk
73.4% approval · 732 decisions
Pentland Hills
93.7% approval · 730 decisions
Portobello/Craigmillar (Pre May 2017)
90.8% approval · 725 decisions
Recent comparable decisions
The most recent residential planning decisions in City of Edinburgh, showing how the council decides real applications.
26/00945/LBC
Replacement of timber single glazing windows with uPVC double glazing windows. · Craigentinny/Duddingston · Wed 11 Mar 2026
26/00920/LBC
Internal alterations, including wall removal to form open plan kitchen /living s · No Ward Number · Mon 09 Mar 2026
26/00649/FUL
Proposed single storey front extension. · Almond · Fri 06 Mar 2026
Showing 3 of 200 comparable decisions. See all 200 in the full report →
What gets approved near your property?
In City of Edinburgh, 1 in 10 applications are refused. Your PlanningLens Full Planning Analysis gives you 17 pages of intelligence specific to your property:
✓ Ward-level approval rates for your exact area
✓ Common refusal reasons in City of Edinburgh
✓ Your 10 nearest comparable planning decisions
✓ Appeal success rates
✓ PDF report to share with your architect
Free planning check for City of Edinburgh →
Free. Based on 34,504 decisions.
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