Which ward in Guildford has the highest planning approval rate?

Ash Vale at 91.7% based on 132 decisions.

Which ward in Guildford has the lowest planning approval rate?

Effingham at 76.8% based on 586 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Guildford?

There is a 14.9% 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 14.9% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

10,064 real decisions·21 wards·Updated September 2026

80.8% approved overall. But 1,934 applications refused since 2020. Where you live in Guildford shifts your odds by up to 14.9%. 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	132	121	11	91.7%
2	Ash South	162	145	17	89.5%
3	Merrow	691	602	89	87.1%
4	St Nicolas	260	226	34	86.9%
5	Burpham	558	481	77	86.2%
6	Shalford	979	836	143	85.4%
7	Stoughton South	142	121	21	85.2%
8	Onslow	798	679	119	85.1%
9	Castle	1,003	849	154	84.6%
10	Ash Wharf	142	118	24	83.1%
11	Normandy & Pirbright	471	389	82	82.6%
12	Westborough	542	447	95	82.5%
13	Clandon & Horsley	2,224	1,816	408	81.7%
14	Stoughton North	449	365	84	81.3%
15	Worplesdon	1,078	873	205	81.0%
16	Tillingbourne	1,479	1,198	281	81.0%
17	Bellfields & Slyfield	143	115	28	80.4%
18	Send & Lovelace	743	597	146	80.3%
19	Stoke	648	520	128	80.2%
20	Pilgrims	893	695	198	77.8%
21	Effingham	586	450	136	76.8%

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 14.9% gap separates the best and worst wards. Ash Vale approves 91.7% of applications while Effingham approves just 76.8%. 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

1,934 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 10,064 planning decisions in Guildford, January 2020 to September 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 →