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Planning Permission in Leeds: 86.6% Approval Rate

Leeds Council approves 86.6% of planning applications, based on 44,615 real decisions analysed from the council’s public planning portal. The national average across all councils tracked by PlanningLens is 87.9%. Leeds sits 1.3 percentage points below the national average.

44,615 decisions analysed·Updated April 2026·Every result links to the original council record
86.6%
Approval rate
44,615
Decisions
38,647
Approved
5,968
Refused
Postcodes served by Leeds: BD11, BD4, HG3, LS1, LS10, LS11, LS12, LS13, LS14, LS15, LS16, LS17, LS18, LS19, LS2, LS20, LS21, LS22, LS23, LS24, LS25, LS26, LS27, LS28, LS29, LS3, LS4, LS5, LS6, LS7, LS8, LS9, LS98, WF10

How Does Leeds Decide Applications?

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Approval Rates by Application Type in Leeds

Not all applications are treated equally. Extension types, listed building consent, and change of use applications each have very different success rates in Leeds.

Application TypeApprovedRefusedTotalRate
Full19,4683,43522,903
85.0%
Trees5,8182086,026
96.5%
Discharge of Conditions4,6556445,299
87.8%
Certificate of Lawfulness4,3077715,078
84.8%
Other2,2286542,882
77.3%
Listed Building1,152891,241
92.8%
Advertisement1,0191671,186
85.9%
See how this applies to your postcode →

These are averages. Your property is specific.

A loft conversion in one ward can have a 90% approval rate. In the next ward, 55%. The free check tells you which side you're on.

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Planning Approval Rates by Ward in Leeds

Ward-level data reveals where planning applications are most and least likely to succeed. Officers, local policies, and neighbourhood character all play a role.

Ward variation in Leeds: Little London & Woodhouse has the highest approval rate at 94.1%, while Gipton & Harehills sits at 78.1%. That 16.0 percentage point gap matters — where your property sits can shift your odds significantly.
WardApprovedRefusedTotalRate
Little London & Woodhouse2,7931742,967
94.1%
Harewood2,3934542,847
84.1%
Horsforth2,1252612,386
89.1%
Adel & Wharfedale2,0733112,384
87.0%
Roundhay2,0313002,331
87.1%
Wetherby1,9962812,277
87.7%
Guiseley & Rawdon1,8232442,067
88.2%
Headingley & Hyde Park1,4423051,747
82.5%
Calverley & Farsley1,4012181,619
86.5%
Alwoodley1,3272691,596
83.1%
Otley & Yeadon1,3082281,536
85.2%
Weetwood1,2731791,452
87.7%
Moortown1,2211721,393
87.7%
Hunslet & Riverside1,2621181,380
91.4%
Chapel Allerton9852141,199
82.2%
Morley North9911371,128
87.9%
Pudsey9351521,087
86.0%
Temple Newsam9161511,067
85.8%
Garforth & Swillington8651901,055
82.0%
Rothwell8721711,043
83.6%
Beeston & Holbeck9031161,019
88.6%
Morley South79593888
89.5%
Kippax & Methley716145861
83.2%
Ardsley & Robin Hood744117861
86.4%
Crossgates & Whinmoor714135849
84.1%

Showing top 25 of 33 wards by volume. Your Pro Report includes the full ward breakdown.

See full ward breakdown →

Recent Planning Decisions in Leeds

Real residential planning decisions from Leeds council. Each reference links to the council's own planning portal so you can verify the details yourself.

ReferenceProposalDecision
26/01117/CLP
Ardsley & Robin Hood
Certificate of Proposed Lawful Development for a single storey rear extensionApproved
26/9/00033/MOD
Wetherby
Single storey front and rear extensions; car port to side with canopy above; froApproved
26/01023/CLP
Beeston & Holbeck
Certificate of Proposed Lawful Development for a single storey rear extensionApproved
26/9/00032/MOD
Moortown
Single storey rear and side extension; roof extensions including new gable to siApproved
26/9/00014/MOD
Wetherby
Reserved Matters Application for 762 dwellings relating to scale, layout, appearApproved
26/9/00013/MOD
Wetherby
Reserved Matters Application for 762 dwellings relating to scale, layout, appearRefused
26/9/00015/MOD
Wetherby
Outline application for 800 dwellings, primary school, convenience store (up to Refused
26/00406/FU
Crossgates & Whinmoor
Single storey extension to front; new window to sideApproved
26/00385/CLP
Kippax & Methley
Certificate of Proposed Lawful Development for a dormer window and single storeyRefused
26/00248/FU
Middleton Park
Part retrospective application for extensions and replacement roof incorporatingRefused

Before you spend £5,000+ on an architect

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Planning Data for Nearby Councils

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Explore Leeds's Planning Data

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Planning Guides

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Frequently Asked Questions: Planning in Leeds

What is the planning approval rate in Leeds?

Based on 44,615 planning decisions, the overall approval rate in Leeds is 86.6%. The national average across councils tracked by PlanningLens is 87.9%. However, rates vary significantly by ward and application type.

How many planning applications have been decided in Leeds?

PlanningLens has analysed 44,615 planning decisions from Leeds council. 38,647 were approved and 5,968 were refused. These figures cover decisions from January 2020 to the present.

How are planning applications decided in Leeds?

The average approval rate in Leeds is 86.6%, but outcomes depend heavily on your specific ward, the type of extension or development you are proposing, and local planning policy. Use the PlanningLens free postcode check to get a personalised score.

About Leeds Planning Data: This analysis draws on 44,615 planning decisions published by Leeds council. Every application is classified as approved or refused based on the council's own decision wording. Withdrawn applications and procedural outcomes are excluded. Approval rates vary between wards, application types, and time periods. For full details on how we collect and analyse data, see our methodology →
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