Which ward in Hertsmere has the highest planning approval rate?

Borehamwood Cowley Hill at 92.8% based on 264 decisions.

Which ward in Hertsmere has the lowest planning approval rate?

Potters Bar Oakmere at 81.6% based on 174 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Hertsmere?

There is a 11.2% gap between Borehamwood Cowley Hill and Potters Bar Oakmere. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Hertsmere

Planning outcomes in Hertsmere are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 11.2% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

4,144 real decisions·17 wards·Updated August 2026

87.8% approved overall. But 506 applications refused since 2020. Where you live in Hertsmere shifts your odds by up to 11.2%. The council average doesn't tell you which side of that gap you're on.

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All 17 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Borehamwood Cowley Hill	264	245	19	92.8%
2	Not Applicable - Adj Authorityl	27	25	2	92.6%
3	Borehamwood Brookmeadow	231	211	20	91.3%
4	Aldenham West	412	369	43	89.6%
5	Borehamwood Kenilworth	169	151	18	89.3%
6	Shenley	300	267	33	89.0%
7	Elstree	211	186	25	88.2%
8	Potters Bar Parkfield	295	260	35	88.1%
9	Bushey St James	253	221	32	87.4%
10	Potters Bar Furzefield	223	195	28	87.4%
11	Bushey North	207	181	26	87.4%
12	Borehamwood Hillside	291	253	38	86.9%
13	Bushey Park	212	184	28	86.8%
14	Bushey Heath	262	226	36	86.3%
15	Aldenham East	386	332	54	86.0%
16	Bentley Heath & The Royds	158	131	27	82.9%
17	Potters Bar Oakmere	174	142	32	81.6%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

An extension might sail through in Borehamwood Cowley Hill but face serious resistance in Potters Bar Oakmere.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

A 11.2% gap separates the best and worst wards. Borehamwood Cowley Hill approves 92.8% of applications while Potters Bar Oakmere approves just 81.6%. 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

506 planning applications in Hertsmere 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 Hertsmere planning data

Methodology: Covers 4,144 planning decisions in Hertsmere, January 2020 to August 2026. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid excluded. Ward boundaries reflect current electoral divisions. Data from Hertsmere Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →