Guildford planning approval rate

Guildford council approved 81.7% of planning applications and refused 18.3%, based on 16,972 decisions analysed. Ranked 21st out of 221 councils for strictness.

Last updated: March 2026 · Based on decisions from January 2020 to present

81.7%

overall approval rate

16,972

Decisions analysed

13,868

Approved

3,104

Refused

Wards covered

Planning in Guildford? 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 Guildford. Householder and full planning applications typically have the highest volume.

Full (8,667 decided)

81.6%

Discharge of Conditions (2,272 decided)

76.0%

Trees (1,956 decided)

98.6%

Certificate of Lawfulness (1,726 decided)

75.2%

Other (1,533 decided)

74.0%

Listed Building (523 decided)

88.1%

Advertisement (295 decided)

84.4%

Approval rate by project type

These rates are based on what homeowners are actually building in Guildford — mined from 16,972 proposal descriptions.

Rear Extension (3,726 decided)

81.5%

Garage / Parking (2,963 decided)

78.4%

Side Extension (2,143 decided)

80.0%

Dormer (1,456 decided)

75.7%

Outbuilding (1,245 decided)

78.9%

Conservatory (768 decided)

84.9%

Loft Conversion (752 decided)

75.1%

Extension (General) (744 decided)

78.9%

New Build (703 decided)

69.3%

Front Extension (631 decided)

79.6%

Change of Use (Residential) (445 decided)

72.6%

Wraparound Extension (418 decided)

81.8%

Hip-to-Gable Conversion (314 decided)

78.0%

Basement (141 decided)

81.6%

Annex (118 decided)

73.7%

HMO (66 decided)

56.1%

Flat Conversion (42 decided)

71.4%

Approval rate by ward

Planning outcomes vary significantly by ward within Guildford. Click any ward for detailed statistics.

Clandon & Horsley (2,032 decided)

80.9%

Tillingbourne (1,351 decided)

80.9%

Worplesdon (991 decided)

80.2%

Shalford (887 decided)

85.5%

Castle (813 decided)

82.4%

Pilgrims (807 decided)

78.7%

Onslow (740 decided)

84.7%

Merrow (639 decided)

87.2%

Send & Lovelace (633 decided)

80.1%

Stoke (578 decided)

79.1%

Effingham (540 decided)

76.9%

Burpham (497 decided)

85.7%

Westborough (495 decided)

82.2%

Stoughton North (430 decided)

81.4%

Normandy & Pirbright (379 decided)

81.0%

St Nicolas (226 decided)

85.4%

Ash South (133 decided)

88.0%

Bellfields & Slyfield (117 decided)

78.6%

Ash Wharf (116 decided)

80.2%

Ash Vale (112 decided)

92.0%

Wards in Guildford

Clandon & Horsley

80.9% approval · 2,032 decisions

Tillingbourne

80.9% approval · 1,351 decisions

Worplesdon

80.2% approval · 991 decisions

Shalford

85.5% approval · 887 decisions

Castle

82.4% approval · 813 decisions

Pilgrims

78.7% approval · 807 decisions

Onslow

84.7% approval · 740 decisions

Merrow

87.2% approval · 639 decisions

Send & Lovelace

80.1% approval · 633 decisions

Stoke

79.1% approval · 578 decisions

Effingham

76.9% approval · 540 decisions

Burpham

85.7% approval · 497 decisions

Westborough

82.2% approval · 495 decisions

Stoughton North

81.4% approval · 430 decisions

Normandy & Pirbright

81.0% approval · 379 decisions

St Nicolas

85.4% approval · 226 decisions

Ash South

88.0% approval · 133 decisions

Bellfields & Slyfield

78.6% approval · 117 decisions

Ash Wharf

80.2% approval · 116 decisions

Ash Vale

92.0% approval · 112 decisions

Recent comparable decisions

The most recent residential planning decisions in Guildford, showing how the council decides real applications.

26/T/00013

Sycamore (T1) to section fell one sided and unbalanced Sycamore in rear garden. · Effingham · Wed 25 Feb 2026

Approved

26/P/00006

Erection of single storey rear extension and conversion of loft space to habitab · Merrow · Wed 25 Feb 2026

Approved

24/P/00987

Self build conversion of existing outbuildings and infill extension to create a · Worplesdon · Wed 25 Feb 2026

Approved

Showing 3 of 200 comparable decisions. See all 200 in the Pro Report →

What gets approved near your property?

In Guildford, 1 in 5 applications are refused. Your PlanningLens Pro Report gives you 17 pages of intelligence specific to your property:

✓ Ward-level approval rates for your exact area
✓ Common refusal reasons in Guildford
✓ Your 10 nearest comparable planning decisions
✓ Appeal success rates
✓ PDF report to share with your architect

Get Guildford Pro Report — £79

Less than one set of revised drawings. Based on 16,972 decisions.

Compare with nearby councils

Epsom & Ewell Horsham Hart Windsor & Maidenhead

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