Which ward in Hertsmere has the highest planning approval rate?

Borehamwood Cowley Hill at 93.0% based on 272 decisions.

Which ward in Hertsmere has the lowest planning approval rate?

Potters Bar Oakmere at 81.7% based on 186 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Hertsmere?

There is a 11.3% 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 11.3% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

1,943 real decisions·17 wards·Updated September 2026

87.5% approved overall. But 242 applications refused since 2020. Where you live in Hertsmere shifts your odds by up to 11.3%. 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	272	253	19	93.0%
2	Not Applicable - Adj Authorityl	27	25	2	92.6%
3	Borehamwood Brookmeadow	244	224	20	91.8%
4	Borehamwood Kenilworth	182	164	18	90.1%
5	Aldenham West	433	389	44	89.8%
6	Shenley	315	281	34	89.2%
7	Elstree	225	199	26	88.4%
8	Potters Bar Parkfield	309	273	36	88.3%
9	Bushey North	211	185	26	87.7%
10	Bushey St James	259	227	32	87.6%
11	Potters Bar Furzefield	230	201	29	87.4%
12	Borehamwood Hillside	296	257	39	86.8%
13	Bushey Park	224	194	30	86.6%
14	Bushey Heath	266	230	36	86.5%
15	Aldenham East	405	350	55	86.4%
16	Bentley Heath & The Royds	170	143	27	84.1%
17	Potters Bar Oakmere	186	152	34	81.7%

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 11.3% gap separates the best and worst wards. Borehamwood Cowley Hill approves 93.0% of applications while Potters Bar Oakmere approves just 81.7%. 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

242 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 1,943 planning decisions in Hertsmere, January 2020 to September 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 →