Which ward in Forest of Dean has the highest planning approval rate?

Cinderford West at 94.9% based on 158 decisions.

Which ward in Forest of Dean has the lowest planning approval rate?

Ruspidge at 85.3% based on 75 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Forest of Dean?

There is a 9.6% gap between Cinderford West and Ruspidge. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Forest of Dean

Planning outcomes in Forest of Dean are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 9.6% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

6,046 real decisions·21 wards·Updated March 2026

90.6% approved overall. But 567 applications refused since 2020. Where you live in Forest of Dean shifts your odds by up to 9.6%. The council average doesn't tell you which side of that gap you're on.

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All 21 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Cinderford West	158	150	8	94.9%
2	Lydney West & Aylburton	148	140	8	94.6%
3	Lydney East	267	252	15	94.4%
4	Berry Hill	220	206	14	93.6%
5	Newnham	549	512	37	93.3%
6	Newland & Sling	262	244	18	93.1%
7	Coleford	324	300	24	92.6%
8	St Briavels	343	317	26	92.4%
9	Pillowell	174	160	14	92.0%
10	Cinderford East	142	130	12	91.5%
11	Longhope & Huntley	432	393	39	91.0%
12	Newent & Taynton	466	422	44	90.6%
13	Tidenham	391	350	41	89.5%
14	Lydbrook	122	109	13	89.3%
15	Lydney North	65	58	7	89.2%
16	Bream	242	214	28	88.4%
17	Westbury-on-Severn	269	237	32	88.1%
18	Mitcheldean, Ruardean & Drybrook	382	336	46	88.0%
19	Hartpury & Redmarley	726	636	90	87.6%
20	Dymock	279	240	39	86.0%
21	Ruspidge	75	64	11	85.3%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

An extension might sail through in Cinderford West but face serious resistance in Ruspidge.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

A 9.6% gap separates the best and worst wards. Cinderford West approves 94.9% of applications while Ruspidge approves just 85.3%. 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

567 planning applications in Forest of Dean 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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More Forest of Dean planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 6,046 planning decisions in Forest of Dean, January 2020 to present. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid excluded. Ward boundaries reflect current electoral divisions. Data from Forest of Dean Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →