Which ward in Leeds has the highest planning approval rate?

Little London & Woodhouse at 94.1% based on 2,967 decisions.

Which ward in Leeds has the lowest planning approval rate?

Gipton & Harehills at 78.1% based on 753 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Leeds?

There is a 16.0% gap between Little London & Woodhouse and Gipton & Harehills. Your postcode significantly affects outcomes.

Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Leeds

Planning outcomes in Leeds are highly localised. The gap between the most and least permissive wards is 16.0% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

44,615 real decisions·33 wards·Updated March 2026

All 33 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Little London & Woodhouse	2,967	2,793	174	94.1%
2	Hunslet & Riverside	1,380	1,262	118	91.4%
3	Morley South	888	795	93	89.5%
4	Horsforth	2,386	2,125	261	89.1%
5	Kirkstall	772	687	85	89.0%
6	Beeston & Holbeck	1,019	903	116	88.6%
7	Guiseley & Rawdon	2,067	1,823	244	88.2%
8	Morley North	1,128	991	137	87.9%
9	Wetherby	2,277	1,996	281	87.7%
10	Moortown	1,393	1,221	172	87.7%
11	Weetwood	1,452	1,273	179	87.7%
12	Killingbeck & Seacroft	641	558	83	87.1%
13	Roundhay	2,331	2,031	300	87.1%
14	Adel & Wharfedale	2,384	2,073	311	87.0%
15	Bramley & Stanningley	595	515	80	86.6%
16	Calverley & Farsley	1,619	1,401	218	86.5%
17	Ardsley & Robin Hood	861	744	117	86.4%
18	Pudsey	1,087	935	152	86.0%
19	Temple Newsam	1,067	916	151	85.8%
20	Farnley & Wortley	801	684	117	85.4%
21	Otley & Yeadon	1,536	1,308	228	85.2%
22	Armley	741	630	111	85.0%
23	Burmantofts & Richmond Hill	762	647	115	84.9%
24	Middleton Park	497	422	75	84.9%
25	Harewood	2,847	2,393	454	84.1%
26	Crossgates & Whinmoor	849	714	135	84.1%
27	Rothwell	1,043	872	171	83.6%
28	Kippax & Methley	861	716	145	83.2%
29	Alwoodley	1,596	1,327	269	83.1%
30	Headingley & Hyde Park	1,747	1,442	305	82.5%
31	Chapel Allerton	1,199	985	214	82.2%
32	Garforth & Swillington	1,055	865	190	82.0%
33	Gipton & Harehills	753	588	165	78.1%

See how this applies to your postcode →

These are council averages. Your property is specific.

An extension might sail through in Little London & Woodhouse but face serious resistance in Gipton & Harehills.
Check your postcode to see what actually happens near your address.

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What the data tells us

A 16.0% gap separates the best and worst wards. Little London & Woodhouse approves 94.1% of applications while Gipton & Harehills approves just 78.1%. 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

5,968 planning applications in Leeds have been refused since 2020. Many of those homeowners had already paid for drawings and application fees. A £79 report shows you what gets approved — and what gets refused — near your property.

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More Leeds planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 44,615 planning decisions in Leeds, January 2020 to present. Approval rate = approved / (approved + refused). Pending, withdrawn and invalid excluded. Ward boundaries reflect current electoral divisions. Data from Leeds Council's public planning portal. Full methodology →