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

Cinderford West at 95.1% based on 163 decisions.

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

Dymock at 86.3% based on 292 decisions.

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

There is a 8.8% gap between Cinderford West and Dymock. 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.

6,413 real decisions·21 wards·Updated August 2026

90.8% approved overall. But 587 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	163	155	8	95.1%
2	Lydney West & Aylburton	157	149	8	94.9%
3	Lydney East	274	259	15	94.5%
4	Berry Hill	237	223	14	94.1%
5	Newland & Sling	278	260	18	93.5%
6	Newnham	580	541	39	93.3%
7	Coleford	352	327	25	92.9%
8	St Briavels	356	330	26	92.7%
9	Pillowell	184	169	15	91.8%
10	Cinderford East	157	144	13	91.7%
11	Newent & Taynton	495	450	45	90.9%
12	Longhope & Huntley	464	421	43	90.7%
13	Tidenham	417	376	41	90.2%
14	Lydney North	67	60	7	89.6%
15	Lydbrook	129	115	14	89.1%
16	Bream	255	227	28	89.0%
17	Mitcheldean, Ruardean & Drybrook	397	350	47	88.2%
18	Westbury-on-Severn	295	260	35	88.1%
19	Hartpury & Redmarley	773	679	94	87.8%
20	Ruspidge	81	70	11	86.4%
21	Dymock	292	252	40	86.3%

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 Dymock.
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 95.1% of applications while Dymock approves just 86.3%. 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

587 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 3,780,000+ real decisions

More Forest of Dean planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 6,413 planning decisions in Forest of Dean, January 2020 to August 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 →