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

Cinderford West at 95.2% based on 166 decisions.

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

Ruspidge at 86.4% based on 81 decisions.

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

There is a 8.8% 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 8.8% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

4,347 real decisions·21 wards·Updated September 2026

88.7% approved overall. But 492 applications refused since 2020. Where you live in Forest of Dean shifts your odds by up to 8.8%. 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	166	158	8	95.2%
2	Lydney West & Aylburton	160	152	8	95.0%
3	Lydney East	274	259	15	94.5%
4	Berry Hill	238	224	14	94.1%
5	Newland & Sling	283	265	18	93.6%
6	Newnham	589	550	39	93.4%
7	Coleford	356	331	25	93.0%
8	St Briavels	367	341	26	92.9%
9	Pillowell	187	172	15	92.0%
10	Cinderford East	159	146	13	91.8%
11	Newent & Taynton	499	454	45	91.0%
12	Longhope & Huntley	476	433	43	91.0%
13	Tidenham	425	383	42	90.1%
14	Lydney North	68	61	7	89.7%
15	Lydbrook	133	119	14	89.5%
16	Bream	259	231	28	89.2%
17	Mitcheldean, Ruardean & Drybrook	407	360	47	88.5%
18	Hartpury & Redmarley	783	688	95	87.9%
19	Westbury-on-Severn	301	263	38	87.4%
20	Dymock	296	256	40	86.5%
21	Ruspidge	81	70	11	86.4%

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 8.8% gap separates the best and worst wards. Cinderford West approves 95.2% of applications while Ruspidge approves just 86.4%. 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

492 planning applications in Forest of Dean 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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Free · Property report emailed in minutes · Based on 3,840,000+ real decisions

More Forest of Dean planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 4,347 planning decisions in Forest of Dean, January 2020 to September 2026. 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 →