Which ward in Leeds has the highest planning approval rate?

Little London & Woodhouse at 93.9% based on 3,118 decisions.

Which ward in Leeds has the lowest planning approval rate?

Gipton & Harehills at 78.0% based on 790 decisions.

How much do planning approval rates vary across Leeds?

There is a 15.9% 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 15.9% — that's not noise, it's a fundamentally different planning environment depending on where you live.

24,994 real decisions·33 wards·Updated September 2026

All 33 wards ranked

#	Ward	Decisions	Approved	Refused	Rate
1	Little London & Woodhouse	3,118	2,927	191	93.9%
2	Hunslet & Riverside	1,419	1,297	122	91.4%
3	Horsforth	2,489	2,220	269	89.2%
4	Kirkstall	805	717	88	89.1%
5	Morley South	932	828	104	88.8%
6	Beeston & Holbeck	1,076	954	122	88.7%
7	Guiseley & Rawdon	2,149	1,896	253	88.2%
8	Weetwood	1,534	1,350	184	88.0%
9	Morley North	1,174	1,030	144	87.7%
10	Wetherby	2,402	2,098	304	87.3%
11	Moortown	1,450	1,265	185	87.2%
12	Roundhay	2,437	2,120	317	87.0%
13	Bramley & Stanningley	613	533	80	86.9%
14	Killingbeck & Seacroft	658	572	86	86.9%
15	Adel & Wharfedale	2,522	2,189	333	86.8%
16	Ardsley & Robin Hood	894	774	120	86.6%
17	Calverley & Farsley	1,692	1,464	228	86.5%
18	Pudsey	1,147	984	163	85.8%
19	Farnley & Wortley	825	705	120	85.5%
20	Temple Newsam	1,115	951	164	85.3%
21	Otley & Yeadon	1,627	1,384	243	85.1%
22	Armley	771	655	116	85.0%
23	Middleton Park	510	432	78	84.7%
24	Burmantofts & Richmond Hill	808	683	125	84.5%
25	Crossgates & Whinmoor	890	750	140	84.3%
26	Harewood	2,990	2,511	479	84.0%
27	Rothwell	1,104	922	182	83.5%
28	Alwoodley	1,668	1,383	285	82.9%
29	Headingley & Hyde Park	1,839	1,518	321	82.5%
30	Garforth & Swillington	1,097	903	194	82.3%
31	Kippax & Methley	911	750	161	82.3%
32	Chapel Allerton	1,258	1,033	225	82.1%
33	Gipton & Harehills	790	616	174	78.0%

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 15.9% gap separates the best and worst wards. Little London & Woodhouse approves 93.9% of applications while Gipton & Harehills approves just 78.0%. 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

3,964 planning applications in Leeds 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 Leeds planning data

Nearby councils ward breakdowns

Methodology: Covers 24,994 planning decisions in Leeds, January 2020 to September 2026. 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 →