Which ward in Guildford has the highest planning approval rate?

Ash Vale at 91.5% based on 130 decisions.

Which ward in Guildford has the lowest planning approval rate?

Effingham at 76.9% based on 581 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Guildford?

There is a 14.6% gap between Ash Vale and Effingham. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Guildford

Planning outcomes in Guildford are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 14.6% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

18,185 real decisions·21 wards·Updated August 2026

82.1% approved overall. But 3,261 applications refused since 2020. Where you live in Guildford shifts your odds by up to 14.6%. 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	Ash Vale	130	119	11	91.5%
2	Ash South	157	140	17	89.2%
3	Merrow	681	594	87	87.2%
4	St Nicolas	253	219	34	86.6%
5	Burpham	547	472	75	86.3%
6	Stoughton South	137	117	20	85.4%
7	Shalford	959	817	142	85.2%
8	Onslow	788	671	117	85.2%
9	Castle	963	810	153	84.1%
10	Ash Wharf	137	113	24	82.5%
11	Westborough	535	441	94	82.4%
12	Normandy & Pirbright	450	369	81	82.0%
13	Clandon & Horsley	2,185	1,783	402	81.6%
14	Stoughton North	445	362	83	81.3%
15	Worplesdon	1,064	860	204	80.8%
16	Tillingbourne	1,454	1,175	279	80.8%
17	Bellfields & Slyfield	139	112	27	80.6%
18	Send & Lovelace	722	581	141	80.5%
19	Stoke	633	506	127	79.9%
20	Pilgrims	874	682	192	78.0%
21	Effingham	581	447	134	76.9%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

An extension might sail through in Ash Vale but face serious resistance in Effingham.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

A 14.6% gap separates the best and worst wards. Ash Vale approves 91.5% of applications while Effingham approves just 76.9%. 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

3,261 planning applications in Guildford 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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More Guildford planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 18,185 planning decisions in Guildford, January 2020 to August 2026. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid excluded. Ward boundaries reflect current electoral divisions. Data from Guildford Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →