Leeds planning approval rate

Leeds council approved 86.6% of planning applications and refused 13.4%, based on 44,615 decisions analysed. Ranked 55th out of 221 councils for strictness.

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

86.6%

overall approval rate

44,615

Decisions analysed

38,647

Approved

5,968

Refused

Wards covered

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

Full (22,903 decided)

85.0%

Trees (6,026 decided)

96.5%

Discharge of Conditions (5,299 decided)

87.8%

Certificate of Lawfulness (5,078 decided)

84.8%

Other (2,882 decided)

77.3%

Listed Building (1,241 decided)

92.8%

Advertisement (1,186 decided)

85.9%

Approval rate by project type

These rates are based on what homeowners are actually building in Leeds — mined from 44,615 proposal descriptions.

Rear Extension (10,080 decided)

89.0%

Side Extension (6,927 decided)

86.2%

Garage / Parking (6,017 decided)

84.6%

Dormer (4,379 decided)

80.7%

Extension (General) (3,224 decided)

85.3%

Change of Use (Residential) (2,245 decided)

77.3%

Wraparound Extension (2,010 decided)

87.2%

Outbuilding (1,820 decided)

82.8%

Front Extension (1,403 decided)

78.5%

Conservatory (1,039 decided)

87.3%

HMO (992 decided)

79.4%

New Build (731 decided)

71.8%

Loft Conversion (707 decided)

82.7%

Basement (660 decided)

76.8%

Hip-to-Gable Conversion (444 decided)

82.0%

Flat Conversion (229 decided)

75.1%

Annex (220 decided)

80.0%

Approval rate by ward

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

Little London & Woodhouse (2,967 decided)

94.1%

Harewood (2,847 decided)

84.1%

Horsforth (2,386 decided)

89.1%

Adel & Wharfedale (2,384 decided)

87.0%

Roundhay (2,331 decided)

87.1%

Wetherby (2,277 decided)

87.7%

Guiseley & Rawdon (2,067 decided)

88.2%

Headingley & Hyde Park (1,747 decided)

82.5%

Calverley & Farsley (1,619 decided)

86.5%

Alwoodley (1,596 decided)

83.1%

Otley & Yeadon (1,536 decided)

85.2%

Weetwood (1,452 decided)

87.7%

Moortown (1,393 decided)

87.7%

Hunslet & Riverside (1,380 decided)

91.4%

Chapel Allerton (1,199 decided)

82.2%

Morley North (1,128 decided)

87.9%

Pudsey (1,087 decided)

86.0%

Temple Newsam (1,067 decided)

85.8%

Garforth & Swillington (1,055 decided)

82.0%

Rothwell (1,043 decided)

83.6%

Wards in Leeds

Little London & Woodhouse

94.1% approval · 2,967 decisions

Harewood

84.1% approval · 2,847 decisions

Horsforth

89.1% approval · 2,386 decisions

Adel & Wharfedale

87.0% approval · 2,384 decisions

Roundhay

87.1% approval · 2,331 decisions

Wetherby

87.7% approval · 2,277 decisions

Guiseley & Rawdon

88.2% approval · 2,067 decisions

Headingley & Hyde Park

82.5% approval · 1,747 decisions

Calverley & Farsley

86.5% approval · 1,619 decisions

Alwoodley

83.1% approval · 1,596 decisions

Otley & Yeadon

85.2% approval · 1,536 decisions

Weetwood

87.7% approval · 1,452 decisions

Moortown

87.7% approval · 1,393 decisions

Hunslet & Riverside

91.4% approval · 1,380 decisions

Chapel Allerton

82.2% approval · 1,199 decisions

Morley North

87.9% approval · 1,128 decisions

Pudsey

86.0% approval · 1,087 decisions

Temple Newsam

85.8% approval · 1,067 decisions

Garforth & Swillington

82.0% approval · 1,055 decisions

Rothwell

83.6% approval · 1,043 decisions

Recent comparable decisions

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

26/01117/CLP

Certificate of Proposed Lawful Development for a single storey rear extension · Ardsley & Robin Hood · Fri 06 Mar 2026

Approved

26/9/00033/MOD

Single storey front and rear extensions; car port to side with canopy above; fro · Wetherby · Fri 06 Mar 2026

Approved

26/01023/CLP

Certificate of Proposed Lawful Development for a single storey rear extension · Beeston & Holbeck · Wed 04 Mar 2026

Approved

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

What gets approved near your property?

In Leeds, 1 in 7 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 Leeds
✓ Your 10 nearest comparable planning decisions
✓ Appeal success rates
✓ PDF report to share with your architect

Get Leeds Pro Report — £79

Less than one set of revised drawings. Based on 44,615 decisions.

Compare with nearby councils

Bradford Wakefield Calderdale York

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